HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-1994 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 1994
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Plainview -
Hale County Health District was called to order as a Committee
of the Whole by Board Chairman Dr. Stephen L. Turner at approx-
imately 12:30 P.M. on Thursday, September 15, 1994, at the Gol-
den Corral Steakhouse. Shortly thereafter there was a quorum and
the meeting continued.
Those attending were: Dr. Turner, Dorothy Tilson, Dr. Mary Bub -
lis, John Castro, Earl Brown, Margaret Kay, Donna Womble, Dr.
Tony Loggins, Dr. Kit Linton, Barbara Dorman, Nina Morris, Larry
Mc Bee and City Manager Jim Jeffers.
Also present were guests Bob Tilson, Ben Linton and George Gon-
zales; and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After the minutes of the last meeting were approved and the
Board had voted to pay the expenditures, the Chairman asked
Dr. Bublis to give her report.
Dr. Bublis reported the Communicable Diseases most reported,
currently, were Strep, Gastro Enteritis, Upper Respiratory
Infections, Pneumonia, Flu, Bronchitis, Pharengitis and
Chicken Pox. She said, also, there had been two (2) cases
of Salmonellosis and two (2) cases of Shigellosis reported.
John Castro introduced Larry Mc Bee, the representative of
the Plainview Independent School District who is replacing
John Quinby in that position. He shared with Board members
the following: a camera had been purchased for use by the
Sanitarian; the Sanitarian had been'extremeiy busy with in-
spections Dr. James K. Morgan, Director of Public Health
Region I, in Lubbock, was to serve on the committee appointed
to study the possible merging of Plainview -Hale County Health
Department and South Plains Health Provider; and the committee
for the study/education on Teenage Pregnancy was underway with
Dr. Tony Loggins as the Chairman.
There was a discussion on the permitting of church related,
"not for profit" events in the community. At the conclusion
of the discussion, the Chairman posed that organizations whose
primary purpose is not for sale of food to the public and is
"not for Profit" would not be permitted and would be inspected
only when complaints are received/or when an inspection is
requested. The Chairman suggested that the Sanitarian offer,
at no charge, an annual inservice to individuals responsible
for the foods for these events to keep them informed and up -
to --date on rules and regulations.
There was a motion to this effect and a vote by the Board
carried the motion.
George Gonzales, a citizen concerned with the permitting
of "not for profit" events was asked by the Chairman to share
his views about the Boards decision. Mr. Gonzales stated he
was satisfied with the Boards decision and said they were
"doing a good job."
The Chairman opened the discussion of the Department facilities
by saying that the current facility is in violation of the Dis-
abilities Act and does not pass the City Ordinance for Fire and
Safety Code, and stated that, according to a study by Mr. James
Robison, the cost to upgrade the building would be $ 258,000.00.
(Even after renovation, the building would not pass the Fire and
Safety Codes.)
In statements about the Haynes Building, as in the studies by
Mr. Robison, Dr. Turner explained the following. the plan
was a workable floor plan; it would be durable and large enough
for a long time into the future; there was 3,700 square foot
of floor space in the planned facility; since the Texas Depart-
ment of Health was stressing the co -location of Health entities,
the Texas Migrant Council Headstart Program, the Floyd,Hale,
Castro Council on Alcoholism, Dr. Dipaolo and his own office
were all located in the Haynes Building; plus the fact that
Allen Treatment Center, Haven Center, Christian Manor were
across the street, and Dr. Mary Bublis' office is one block
away.
He stated, further, the cost of reconstruction of the Haynes
Building would be $ 114,006.00, with a 50% cost share by the
owner of the building. He said it had already been determined
that the building was free of Radon and had been tested for
Asbestos. He suggested that a fifteen (15) year contract for
this facility would be available at $ 7.00 per square foot of
floor space, which was a good rate. Other pluses he mentioned
were plenty of parking; heating and air conditioning were
already in place and in good condition, and after renovation,
will meet all Code and Safety standards.
Dr. Linton asked if the waiting room area and other areas
would adequate. Dr. Turner stated the waiting room area
would be 50% larger than the current space; there would be
five (5) exarn rooms; on big Lab room; plenty of storage for
current and closed records and there would be a large conf-
erence room.
Mr. Castro mentioned it might be wise to wait until the
committee appointed to study the merger of the Department
and South Plains Health Provider met,
Barbara Dorman said both projects could go on at the same
time.
Dr. Turner asked each member of the Board, individually,
to express an opinion about the plan to acquire the Haynes
Building for the Department, and each one gave a positive
response, saying it appeared "workable" and to precede.
Dr, Linton expressed a fear that "it probably would turn
out as it had in the past. We have worked to get information
and costs together, then the City and County turn us down."
Barbara Dorman explained that the City/County worked under
a Budget and could not give an C.K. without having a
dollar amount of the expense of moving, installing telephones,
other equipment, etc.
Dr. Turner stated that the Board should try to make the City
understand that the current facility was literally a "fire
trap." He said if any employee or patient was in the back of
the current building and a fire broke out, they would "burn to
death", since there was no Exit or outside door in the back.
He stated that to "latch on to this opportunity" and "do some --
thing" to get the Haynes Building for the Department would be
better than having a law suit against the City because the
present facility was not up to standard.
The Board members expressed approval of the concept of going
forward with the Haynes Building plan, Dr. Turner asked each
member to try very hard to be present at the City Council
Meeting when the concept was presented. He said he felt, if
everyone was present, the Council would understand this was
a serious presentation.
There was no other business. The meeting was adjourned.
Billie $tandefer
Secretary