Board of Health

Draft Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday October 28, 2021 at 5 pm Anaconda Community Center, 3rd floor conference room conference call: 425-436-6356 access code 204098 Present: Karan Kunz (BOH), Angie Galetti (BOH), Megan Rediske (BOH), Mike Huotte (ADLC Commission) Present on conference call: Leigh Ann Holmes (Public Health Department Director), Amanda Bohrer (Public Health Department) Absent: Dr. Bridgette Baker (BOH), Kathy Russell (BOH) Tam Martin (BOH), Chad Lanes (Sanitarian) 1. Meeting called to order at 5:05; quorum not met 2. Unable to approve June 28, 2021 meeting minutes 3. Membership Discussion a. Karan Kunz announced that she is not going to renew her BOH appointment when it expires in December. i. She shared that she has seen improvements in the BOH, but would like it to have more active working professional membership. ii. She also emphasized the board’s role as an advisory board and the important job of choosing the county’s Health Officer b. Megan Rediske also announced that she is resigning from the BOH at the end of the year for professional reasons. Due to the Montana Tech Nursing Department receiving a $ 7 million donation, her workload is going to increase in the coming months. i. She discussed a positive meeting with Ben Krakowka where they discussed how an advisory board can be more active in its relationship with the commission. c. Leigh Ann mentioned that in the last 18 months-2 years many community leaders have stepped up with the county’s COVID response. She stated some of community members might be interested in the BOH positions. d. Amanda asked if you had to live in the county to be a member, and Karan answered yes. 4. Local Advisory Council on Mental Health update a. Megan stated that she also would not be involved in the LAC. She is going to follow-up with Robyn and Amanda by the end of the year to share her resources. b. Amanda asked that since the group was considering have the LAC as a subcommittee to the BOH, would it be OK if it could be a Tri-County group under the Powell County BOH. Megan stated that was a great idea, and there was no reason not to do it.  c. Amanda also mentioned the draft of the charter the Megan had written. She had positive feedback and asked if the future group could use it. Megan stated yes and reinforced that any reference material she had found could be used in forming this important group. 5. Public Health Department’s Report – submitted over conference call, no budget a. Staffing – Leigh Ann let the group know the department is fully staffed with a new LPN, epidemiologist and office manager hired. b. Grants update – the department is currently working to wrap up the federal fiscal year programs. Leigh Ann stated all of the grants are in good shape. i. The department also received $8,600 in an immunization program to push the vaccine. ii. Healthy Montana Families was down 20 %, but approved for another seven years. iii. Leigh Ann gave an update on FPEP contract and epidemiologist c. WIC clinics are now conducted at the clinic and expanded to Granite County in Phillipsburg and Drummond. d. Telehealth Family Planning has been kicked off, and the department is looking for a provider. There is a NP in Granite County who might be interested. Leigh Ann shared positive feedback on the equipment related to the program. e. Leigh Ann updated the group on the booster recommendations. She shared times for the vaccine booster clinics, and that the current recommendations are that any of the three approved vaccines can be used as a booster. i. Megan asked about the plans for children’s vaccine clinics after the approval. Leigh Ann stated that the department was working and planning for children’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the coming weeks. f. Megan and Karan both praised the Public Health Department and county’s COVID-19 response. The county’s numbers have been consistently lower that other areas, and the schools have not had to close or go remote this school year. 6. Environmental Department’s Report – no report was submitted 7. Public Comment: Amanda Bohrer announced that about 200 7th and 8th graders attended a speaker about the dangers of vaping. She stated the event was a success. Adjourned at 5:40 The next Board of Health meeting will be on Thursday January 27, 2022 at 5 pm at the Anaconda Community Center, 3rd floor conference room.