Dr. Welsh introduced at health board meeting
October 27, 2021 at 3:09 p.m.
Dr. Welsh introduced at health board meeting
By Makenna Mays-
Joe Meier, health board president, was not present so the meeting was conducted by Kim Nease, vice president. Other board members present were Rachel Ramey, Lovelyn Griffin, Carol Westerman and Rebecca Kolb.
Dr. David Welsh was formally introduced as the health officer. Welsh said he was interested in doing the basics first in regard to safe food, water and sewage. His other goals included improving immunizations rates and getting the Franklin County Health Department more involved in pilot programs. Welsh explained it is a good look for the department to be willing to participate in programs.
Supervisor nurse Deborah Tibbetts gave her report. Many Covid vaccines were distributed during the quarter as well as 27 Tuberculosis tests. Tibbetts has been giving regular Covid updates at the commission meetings. She also helped submit a safety PIN grant to decrease infant mortality.
Tibbetts confirmed the health department was doing Pfizer boosters. At the time of the meeting, they were hoping to hear something on the Moderna boosters by the end of the week. Flu shots began an Oct. 12 and they have been giving out regular and high dose. Late clinics are being offered on Thursdays for those who can not get there before 4 p.m.
Sanitarian Dave Fehlinger inspected 56 retail food establishments, issued 32 retail food establishment permits, conducted18 temporary retail food establishment permit inspections, one retail food establishment pre-operational inspection and conducted two retail food establishment follow up inspections. He also issued one septic permit, and there were 27 food recall notifications.
Sanitarian Curt Cox issued 17 residential permits, conducted 36 septic system inspections, three site visits with homeowners/installers, two site visits with soil scientists, conducted two septic system complaint investigations and one trash/open burning investigation.
Secretary/registrar Mary Burk's report showed that for the quarter she issued seven birth certificates and 133 death certificates. Burk also assisted with the yearly local health maintenance grant, Wednesday Covid response team calls, Covid clinics on Mondays and Fridays and assisted in interviews for grant manager and local public health coordinator.
New business on the agenda:
Kristin Burns was introduced as the new local public health coordinator.
Work continues to be done on the EMS Covid grant. This will go through Dec. 31.
Burk addressed the question regarding political affiliations on the board. So far, the balance on the board is four Republicans, one Democrat and one other. The current board has six members, so the seventh member would have to be a Democrat or other.
The next health board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2022.
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Joe Meier, health board president, was not present so the meeting was conducted by Kim Nease, vice president. Other board members present were Rachel Ramey, Lovelyn Griffin, Carol Westerman and Rebecca Kolb.
Dr. David Welsh was formally introduced as the health officer. Welsh said he was interested in doing the basics first in regard to safe food, water and sewage. His other goals included improving immunizations rates and getting the Franklin County Health Department more involved in pilot programs. Welsh explained it is a good look for the department to be willing to participate in programs.
Supervisor nurse Deborah Tibbetts gave her report. Many Covid vaccines were distributed during the quarter as well as 27 Tuberculosis tests. Tibbetts has been giving regular Covid updates at the commission meetings. She also helped submit a safety PIN grant to decrease infant mortality.
Tibbetts confirmed the health department was doing Pfizer boosters. At the time of the meeting, they were hoping to hear something on the Moderna boosters by the end of the week. Flu shots began an Oct. 12 and they have been giving out regular and high dose. Late clinics are being offered on Thursdays for those who can not get there before 4 p.m.
Sanitarian Dave Fehlinger inspected 56 retail food establishments, issued 32 retail food establishment permits, conducted18 temporary retail food establishment permit inspections, one retail food establishment pre-operational inspection and conducted two retail food establishment follow up inspections. He also issued one septic permit, and there were 27 food recall notifications.
Sanitarian Curt Cox issued 17 residential permits, conducted 36 septic system inspections, three site visits with homeowners/installers, two site visits with soil scientists, conducted two septic system complaint investigations and one trash/open burning investigation.
Secretary/registrar Mary Burk's report showed that for the quarter she issued seven birth certificates and 133 death certificates. Burk also assisted with the yearly local health maintenance grant, Wednesday Covid response team calls, Covid clinics on Mondays and Fridays and assisted in interviews for grant manager and local public health coordinator.
New business on the agenda:
Kristin Burns was introduced as the new local public health coordinator.
Work continues to be done on the EMS Covid grant. This will go through Dec. 31.
Burk addressed the question regarding political affiliations on the board. So far, the balance on the board is four Republicans, one Democrat and one other. The current board has six members, so the seventh member would have to be a Democrat or other.
The next health board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2022.
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