MINUTES
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board
CALL TO ORDER
The monthly meeting of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board was held Monday,
May 19, 2008. Chair Donna Bell called the meeting to order.
CONSENT AGENDA
Gerald Pees moved that the Consent Agenda consisting of the Health Board Minutes of April 21, 2008, and Minutes of April 29, 2008, April 2008 monthly Financial Reports, and April monthly Activity Reports be approved. Paul Liechti provided the second and the motion passed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bank Authorization Signatures
Alan Cowles made a motion to update bank signature cards as Karen Shumate was recently elected Health Board Treasurer. Gerald Pees provided the second and the motion passed. Bank signature cards were signed by Donna Bell, Chair, and Karen Shumate, Treasurer.
Progress Report on the 2009 Budget
Dan Partridge provided
the Board with an update on the 2009 budget. Donna Bell, Chair; Dan Partridge,
Director; Jennie Henault, Director of Administrative Services; and Charlotte
Marthaler, Director of Policy and Planning, met with Craig Weinaug, County Administrator,
200 Maine, Suite B Lawrence, KS 66044-1357 OFFICE: 785/843-3060 FAX:
785/843-3161 CLINIC:
785/843-0721 FAX: 785/843-2930
on May 16, 2008, to review the
recommended 2009 Health Department budget. Craig Weinaug requested the Health
Department cut $9,471.00 from the 2009 budget. Dan Partridge provided the
Board with several options for reducing the budget. Gerald Pees made a motion
to accept the 2009 budget with the recommended reductions. Alan Cowles
provided the second and the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Air Quality Report
Richard Ziesenis, Director of Environmental Health, reviewed background information on air quality monitoring in Douglas County. In March of 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was lowering the ozone standard from 85 ppb to 75 ppb. This new standard will become effective in March of 2010. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) believes the EPA may request that the Lawrence area air quality monitor be re-installed. In consideration of the health and economic interest of the community, the Air Quality Advisory Committee and the Health Board believe that Lawrence and Douglas County should take proactive steps to remain in compliance with the EPA ozone standard.
Board of Health Photograph
A group photograph was taken by Lisa Horn, Communications Coordinator, to include newly appointed Health Board member, Paul Liechti.
Director’s Report
1. As part of the Strategic Plan, Jennie Henault, Director of Administrative Services, updated the Board on Information Technology (IT) purchases.
2. Dan Partridge provided the Health Board with a progress report on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Grant. Dan Partridge stated that Health Department Directors and Coordinators met with staff from KDHE and from the University of Kansas on April 23, 2008, and completed a self-assessment to measure where we are. Dan also reviewed the job description for a Community Health Specialist. This position would help with the accreditation process. Dan reported that the NACCHO grant allowed the Health Department to hire a Quality Improvement (QI) Consultant. Dan informed the Board that Susan Crawford had been selected and reviewed her qualifications with them.
3. Dan Partridge updated the Board on the revisions to the Douglas County Sanitary Code. Richard Ziesenis, Director of Environmental Health, and Dan Partridge attended a Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 5, 2008, to present code changes and solicit feedback. As a result, a letter was sent to all Douglas County realtors and the Home Builders Association asking for their comments regarding real estate transfers.
4. Dan Partridge presented the 2007 Annual Report to the County Commission on May 12, 2008, and to the City Commission on May 13, 2008.
5. Dan Partridge updated the Board on QuickBooks software. A consultant was brought in and the issues were resolved.
6. Dan provided the Board with an update on the mass dispensing exercise held on May 7, 2008, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. There were 132 participants that came through the clinic and medication was dispensed for 222 people. Participants included Health Department staff, Douglas County Public Works, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical, Douglas County Medical Reserve Corp (MRC), Douglas County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Douglas County Red Cross and Kansas All Hazards Behavioral Health Team.
Other New Business
1. The next regularly scheduled Health Board meeting will be Monday, June 16, 2008.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Gerald Pees and a second by Alan Cowles.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan Partridge,
Secretary
Present: Donna Bell
Alan Cowles
Paul Liechti
Gerald Pees
Karen Shumate
Ex Officio: Dan Partridge
Other: Jennie Henault
Colleen Hill
Lisa Horn
Charlotte Marthaler
Richard Ziesenis