BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES
FEBRUARY 11, 2010

President Doyle Webster called the Board of Health to order on February 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Attendees:    Rita Hart, Lynn Jones, George Kellner, Dr. Kevin Ketring, Noreen Mocsny,
Jean Hicks, Cammie Mitrione, and Mayor Doyle Webster.

The minutes of January 14, 2009 were approved.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mrs. Mitrione stated there is a member contact list in the board packets. She asked that members look at the list and make any corrections.

NEW BUSINESS
Indigent Burial
Mrs. Mitrione said the City has had more requests for indigent burials in the last couple of years. Since 2008 the City has received four requests and paid for three cremations. Mrs. Mitrione said she called several funeral homes and Walker Funeral Home is willing to handle the cremation of an indigent person for $400. She said there are a couple of forms that need to be filled out by the next of kin. If there is no next of kin then a guardian has usually been appointed by the court.

Dr. Ketring asked if there are other entities that might pay such as Medicare, VA. Mayor Webster said the County used to pay but they have turned that over to the municipalities.

Mrs. Mitrione responded that both VA and Medicare have some death benefits and should be checked out by the next of kin applying for indigent burial if they apply to the deceased.

School Inspection Program Review
Mrs. Mitrione said before Jared’s Law, sanitarians conducted inspections and just made recommendations. Then they operated under Jared’s Law until it was recently repealed in 2009. She said the City could adopt legislation similar to Jared’s Law. She said we don’t have to charge a fee for the license and the penalty phase could be the same as the hotel/motel regulations. She said Jared’s Law focuses on health and safety issues. Mrs. Mitrione stated that Hamilton County is planning to adopt a version of Jared’s Law. Greg Kaskerman from Hamilton County said they have sent a draft copy of Hamilton County’s proposed school inspection program to the school boards in Hamilton County and have a meeting scheduled later in February to review/discuss comments/feedback with the schools.

Mayor Webster said to wait until the County finalizes a law, then go from there.

Mrs. Hart said Princeton School District is cutting $3 million from the budget, without a levy it will be $6 million.

Dr. Ketring asked how is the law the County is looking at different from Jared’s Law and do we have the expertise and time for the inspections?

Mrs. Mitrione replied the law is very close. She said the staff went through training a few years ago. She said there is a checklist they can provide the schools. The schools will have to show proof that they are maintaining the buildings. This would not be different from what they have been doing the past few years under Jared’s Law.

HEALTH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) Grant
Mrs. Mitrione said the PHER grant comes in three phases. She said Springdale has spent the money for Focus Areas 1 and 2. One of the things they bought was a new vaccine refrigerator for the nurse’s office. It is the same type used by Children’s Hospital. The grant money has also been used to upgrade computers, notebooks and pay for time spent on H1N1 issues. She said they are going to continue with Phase IV and focus on minority groups including 14-24 year olds.

Hotel/Motel Inspections
Mrs. Mitrione stated there were no bedbug infestations at La Quinta, Extended Stay or Atrium Hotel. She said The Atrium has had roof issues and is replacing the roof in 2010. They are doing continuous upgrades. In response to Dr. Ketring, Mrs. Mitrione said inspections are done twice a year.

Bedbug complaints
Mrs. Mitrione said The Willows was contacted in October and told to take care of the bedbug issues or the Health Department would file in court. JRK inspected every unit and treated for bedbugs and roaches. Mrs. Mitrione said they began evicting people who weren’t doing their part. The bedbug issue at The Willows is improving significantly.

NURSE’S REPORT
H1N1
Mrs. Hicks reported she is surprised that the Health Department is not finished with H1N1 vaccinations by now. She said they went to La Plaza Tapatia on February 8 and gave 101 vaccines. She said Mexico had not gotten their supply yet and the Health Department may see more requests for vaccine from the Hispanic population. Mrs. Hicks said they have a tentative date of March 5 for a clinic at The Colony. She reported that the Health Department has administered 2322 doses and transferred 470 doses to doctors’ offices.

Mrs. Hicks stated that the Fit Not Fat program has started for the employees. The Children’s Health Fair will be held May 6 and Healthy Women, Healthy Lives will be June 12 at The Healing Center at The Vineyard.

Mrs. Hicks said the health survey went into the newsletter in August. She said they are still gathering statistics and hope to have a report by May.

Mrs. Mocsny presented a flier on the Ohio Citizens Corp and encouraged board members to join.

Respectfully submitted,



Cammie Mitrione, RS
Health Commissioner