LARIMER COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH – March 13, 2008      

 

The Larimer County Board of Health convened its regular meeting at 7:00 PM at the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO.

 

       MEMBERS PRESENT:                Lee Thielen, M.P.A.

                                                            Teri Olson, R.N., M.S.N.

                                                            Blair Trautwein, J.D.

                                                            Mark Richards, M.D., M.P.H. via telephone

                                                            Judy Robinson, B.S.N., M.P.H.

 

Adrienne LeBailly, MD, MPH - Exec. Secretary                                 

 

       OTHERS PRESENT:                   Gerald Blehm, Avie Strand, Jim Devore, Kim Meyer-Lee

                                                            and Amy Smith.

 

           

1.   Call to Order

 

Meeting was called to order at 7:06 P.M.

 

2.   Approval of the Minutes of March 13, 2008

      

       Minutes of March 13, 2008 were unanimously approved

      

 

3.   Late-breaker report on Food-borne illness at Alternative Sentencing Units at the Larimer County Detention Center –Kim Meyer-Lee and Jim Devore

 

Kim Meyer-Lee reported on the gastrointestinal illness outbreak at Larimer County Detention Center Alternative Sentencing Unit (ASU).  Ms. Meyer-Lee distributed a summary of the Clostridium perfringens outbreak investigation.  She explained the Health Department was contacted by a reporter of a local newspaper on Monday, February 25, 2008, requesting information about a gastrointestinal illness outbreak at the ASU.  The Health Department contacted the detention center and was advised that 40-50 individuals in the ASU became ill with nausea, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, etc., on Sunday, February 24, 2008.  Jim Devore, the Consumer Protection/Food Supervisor, informed the BOH of food handling issues found during their investigation and inspection.  They obtained a list of foods served over the prior three days and did food consumption interviews with 53 people at the detention center.  The Health Department was able to obtain and send stool samples to the State Lab for three of the patients; the results verified C. perfringens toxin was present.  Mr. Devore informed the members of the Board that he has returned to ASU for inspections and reported the facility food workers have modified their procedures and are maintaining their temperature logs as well as doing appropriate cool-down of the food.  Lee Thielen questioned the potential risk of the numbers ASU clients who do food service work during the day.  Ms. Meyer-Lee described there is no risk because this incident was caused by a toxin; had this been a norovirus outbreak, the ramifications could have been much greater. The

Department  also recommended that leftovers be put in refrigerator in single-serving portion containers for inmates arriving  to eat after the meal has been served.

 

4.   Colorado Mission of Mercy Dental Care Project (July 2008)-Dr. LeBailly

 

Dr. LeBailly shared a video about the Colorado Mission of Mercy Dental Care Project (CMOM) a dental care project designed to meet the needs of low-income and uninsured persons in great need of dental care who cannot afford to receive these services.  This project started in several other states, but was first held in Colorado last year in Alamosa,  successfully seeing 1300 dental patients.  The project’s success is due to the volunteers and donated funds, equipment, and supplies.    Dr. LeBailly informed the Board members CMOM will take place at “The Ranch” in Loveland on July 18-and 19^th.and will be looking for donations and volunteers. 

 

5.   Election of Board of Health officers for April 1, 2008- March 31, 2009- BOH members

 

Dr. LeBailly reminded the Board members that our by-laws require annual election of officers in March to take office at the April meeting, and that there is a two-consecutive-year limit on officer positions.  Both current officers have been in their positions for only one year.  Teri Olson nominated Lee Thielen to serve another year as president, which was unanimously approved.  Judy Robinson nominated Teri Olson to run as vice-president, which was also unanimously approved.

 

6.   Final approval of Goals for 2008- BOH members

 

Dr. LeBailly presented the revised 2008 goals to the members of the Board.  The members discussed goals they would like to see implemented in the near future, but not at this time due to limited resources.

Lee Thielen requested a discussion of Board  evaluation tools at the next meeting; all were in favor.

 

Motion was made to approve and accept goals for 2008.

 

Motion was unanimously approved.

 

 

7.   Legislative update – Dr. LeBailly and Lee Thielen

 

Dr. LeBailly updated the board members on various bills, including revised language in the TB bill.

 

Dr. LeBailly discussed the bill that would remove the county sales tax cap.

 

Avie Strand shared the bill that could be put into place for special needs adults that are involved with Foothills Gateway.

 

Lee Thielen talked of the S.B. 194 to update Colorado’s Public Health Laws that have been in place for more than 60 years, and how this is a complex bill with changing amendments. The wording of this bill is very crucial, and they are trying to clean up the language.  The fiscal cost to the state health department of implementing this bill would likely be funded by Caring for Colorado.

 

8.   Director’s Report

 

Dr. LeBailly advised the members of the Board that Patriot Services has been selected as the consultant to help us conduct our May 2, 2008, Pandemic Influenza tabletop exercise. 

 

She advised the members that she is participating on a technical advisory committee for the City of Fort Collins city council to develop consensus recommendations to the city council regarding West Nile Virus control which meets for 1 ½ to 2 hours a week, started in January, and will likely run through May.

 

 

A case of pertussis has been reported this year, imported from another state. A report of suspected measles came in, but was determined not to be measles.

 

Dr. LeBailly reported on the behalf of Marie Macpherson that the State Per Capita funding will go up $71,000 and the fund balance usage in 2007 was only about $63,290 (unaudited figures).

 

Also on behalf of Marie Macpherson, Dr. LeBailly reported an increase in ISDS fees will need to be reviewed at the April meeting and Ms. Macpherson will be submitting figures to the members of the Board.

 

 

9.    The next Board of Health meeting will be held on April 10, 2008

 

 

10.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________                 _________________________________

 Amy Smith, Recording Secretary                       Adrienne LeBailly, MD, Executive Secretary