MINUTES
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board
November 15, 2004
CALL TO ORDER
The Monthly Meeting of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board was held Monday, November 15, 2004. Vice Chair Carl McElwee called the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The October Health Board minutes were approved on a motion by Gladys Sanders with a second by Donna Bell.
ACTIVITY AND FINANCIAL/VOUCHER REPORTS
Donna Bell moved that the Board accept the financial and activity reports for October. Gladys Sanders provided the second and the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Proposed Family Planning Program Educational Video
Acting in their capacity as the Family Planning Advisory Committee for the Health Department, the Board reviewed an educational video titled Contraceptive Choices. Several Board members noted the thoroughness of the information presented in the video. By consensus the Board approved the educational video for use in the Health Department clinic.
Environmental Health Report
Water Supply Agreement
Richard Ziesenis, Director of Environmental Health, reviewed the Water Supply Agreement with the Board members and answered their questions. Richard also spoke about several related cases that are currently under review.
Air Quality Report
Richard Ziesenis reviewed the results of the most recent KDHE Air Quality monitoring in Douglas County for the 2004 Ozone season. Ozone levels were much lower than forecast, in large part due to unseasonably mild temperatures coupled with above average amounts of rainfall.
Director’s Report
1. Kay Kent reported on the Flu-X for Priority Groups exercise that was held at Free State High School on Saturday, October 23, 2004. The exercise was successful and proved to be a very valuable learning experience for the Health Department as well as the rest of the agencies involved. It also showed that our just-in-time training was effective and that the Health Department staff could be placed in roles outside of their normal duties and perform exceptionally well.
2. Kay Kent reported on the current situation regarding flu vaccine. KDHE will be receiving 75,000 doses that are to be distributed to health care providers throughout the state with the assistance of local health departments who have identified those clinics or agencies most in need of vaccine. In addition, the Health Department has been acting as a clearinghouse for flu vaccine for all of Douglas County. In doing so we have averaged 87 calls per day just for flu calls. Kay also spoke about the Vaccine For Children (VFC) which is vaccine that has been allotted only for children six months to 18 years of age that meet the criteria set by the CDC and also meet federal guidelines according to the following criteria: enrolled in Medicaid or HealthWave insurance programs; no health insurance; insurance does not pay for immunizations; insurance has co-pay/deductible for immunizations that makes cost of flu shot unaffordable; or be of American Indian or Alaskan Native descent.
3. Kay Kent informed the Board that Kay and several others from the Health Department will be joining a contingency of 70 individuals from Douglas County attending an Emergency Training exercise in Maryland in December. Additional attendees from the Health Department are: Richard Ziesenis, Director of Environmental Health; Kim Ens, RN, Disease Control Program Coordinator; and Barbara Schnitker, RN, Director of Nurses.
4. Cynthia Oshel was hired to replace Glenna Graham as Secretary, effective November 15, 2004, in light of Glenna’s upcoming retirement.
5. Ginger Salmans was hired to replace Shawn Hastie as Clinic/Office Assistant, effective November 22 , 2004.
6. The Health Department is currently recruiting for the vacant MRC Planner position and will soon begin recruiting for the new Communication Coordinator position.
Other New Business
1. The proposed 2005 Holiday Schedule was presented to the Health Board for approval. Gladys Sanders moved to approve the proposed 2005 Holiday Schedule. Donna Bell provided the second and the motion passed.
2. Kay Kent provided the Board with a recommendation for a 2% cost of living increase for Health Department staff based on the cost of living increases budgeted by the City and County. The 2% cost of living wage increase was approved by a motion from Gladys Sanders. Donna Bell provided the second and the motion passed.
3. Marla Brandon, Director of Administrative Services, reviewed information regarding Cafeteria plans and answered several questions. The Board agreed that Marla should pursue this further and submit RFP’s to several plan administrators.
4. Kay Kent requested approval to purchase system furniture to furnish an office with existing grant funds. Gladys Sanders moved to approve capital funds for system furniture, not to exceed $3,000. Donna Bell provided the second and the motion passed.
5. The next Health Board meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2004.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Donna Bell and a second by Gladys Sanders.
Respectfully submitted,
Kay Kent
Secretary
Present: Donna Bell
Carl McElwee
Gladys Sanders
Sherri Vaughn
Ex Officio: Kay Kent
Other: Marla Brandon
Paul Geisler
Charlotte Marthaler
Sue McDaneld
Richard Ziesenis