HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-1998 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
SEPTEMBER 10, 1998
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called
to order at approximately 12:30 P.M., at Plainview Country
Club by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton.
Those attending were: Kit Linton, M.D., John Peck, Earl
Brown, Sally Meeks, R.N., Margaret Kay, Dr. Michael Hinze,
Cinde Ebeling, Dr. Ron Miller, Earle Mc Donough „ Benny
Cantwell, John Castro, Dr. Stephen Turner, City Manager
Jim Jeffers and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After the minutes of the last meeting were approved as
presented, the Chairman called for Dr. Turner's report.
Dr. Turner stated he had not received his usual printed
report on the Communicable diseases reported, but knew
cases of Shigellosis and Salmonellosis had been reported,
as had one case of Hepatitis -A. He complimented Environ-
mental Health Inspector Jack Mc Casland, saying he was
doing a great job of helping record and investigate all
communicables. He stated he had missed Cynthia Palmer,
R.N., saying working with out an R.N. Supervisor was
a little more difficult.
Dr. Turner stated he had been serving, for the past year,
on the Texas Health Care Information Council. He said the
Legislature had charged the organization to collect
information on HMO's and Hospitals in the State, and to
issue "report cards" to the public and small businesses
so they could choose which to use. He said the Governor
had appointed him to be the Chairman of the Council, and
he had a meeting with the State Organization in October.
He stated he would have input at the meetings of this
group that would be beneficial to Hale County.
In Mr. Castro's report,he too, complimented Jack Mc
Casland on doing a good job, and stated Mr. Mc Casland
was now certified to teach the necessary Food Safety
classes.
He stated he had sent out information on the original
organization of the Health Board. He said this inform-
ation referred to the Vernon Statute 4447A. (Basically
stating a Health Board was comprised of seven to nine
members; three of which had to be practicing physicians
and one a practicing dentist.) In 1989, Mr. Castro
said, the 71st Legislature amended this, making several
changes to the rules.
The changes allowed having a Director of a Health Depart-
ment that did not have to be a qualified physician, and
took out the stipulation for the three physicians and one
dentist. Thus saying only the Board would be comprised of
seven to nine members.
Mr. Castro stated he had talked to City Attorney WailY
Hatch, who indicated the Board for Plainview -Hale County
Health Department was in order and nothing had to be done.
Mr. Castro said all voting members were in good standing,
but indicated a reappointment for Margaret Kay and Dr. Kit
Linton was to be initiated. He stated Ex --officio members,
were in good standing because of their positions.
On the issue of expanding services to the outlying
areas, Mr. Castro explained he had talked to several
people who had expressed interest. Kenney Hughs, City
Manager of Kress, was interested, he said, but cost and
amount of services would have to be a consideration;
Gary : Brown, . Floydada , was interested, but wanted to
consider mileage/hour basis fee and inspections of build-
ings; ..Jerry Patton, Silverton, also was interested, but
wanted to know cost and services.
Mr. Castro indicated he would, put something together to
indicate cost and services and get this information to
those interested.
Dr. Turner suggested he send the information to Briscoe
County, as well.
Mr. Castro stated he had plans to correct the Board
meeting Agenda, making each Agenda item specific, so as
to be able to vote on it, if necessary. Also, he wanted
to check with Board members to see if the meeting time
was agreeable to members. He suggested Planning sessions
where members could present their interest and concerns,
and the sessions would provide everybody with information
of "what's going on" and statistics in Hale County.
Dr. Linton stated she felt the planning sessions issue
was a good idea, and it would help to make the active
Board meetings more productive.
Cinde Ebeling stated discussions of current topics would
be a positive thing for the Board.
Mr. Mc Donough stated planning sessions would present
issues/items that could be placed on the Agenda to be
discussed/voted on at an upcoming meeting.
Mr. Jeffers explained the planning sessions would afford
Board members an opportunity to "list your thoughts and
present what is important to you.
There was a discussion on inviting representatives from
surrounding counties to attend the planning sessions, and
Cinde Ebeling suggested including smaller communities,
such as Edmonson.
Dr. Turner stated if smaller communities had an organized
government, it would be appropriate to include them.
Mr Jeffers stated the proposed planning sessions would
be to establish priorities of concerns.
The Board decided to meet Thursday, October 15, 1998, from
12:00 P.M. until 1:30 P.M., at Plainview Country Club, for
its first planning session.
To Mr. Peck's concern about a letter from Texas Department
of Health in Austin, asking for participants in programs
offered by the State, but saying participants were re-
sponsible for their own expenses, Mr. Castro said it might
be arranged to pay one persons expenses to be reimbursed.
Mr. Castro explained the "grace period" for spending "left
over" funds from the current T.D.H. contracts, saying
there would be no money turned back to T.D.H.
There was a mention of beginning each Board meeting with
an Invocation. Nothing was decided.
There was no other business.
The irman adjourned the meeting.
Billie Standefer
Secretary