HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-1996 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
THURSDAY DECEMBER 12, 1996
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department was called
to order by Board Chairman Dr. Kit Linton, at approximate-
ly 12:30 P.M., Thursday, December 12, 1996, at Plainview
Country Club.
Those attending were: Dr. Kit Linton, Cezar Cervantez,
John Peck, Dr. Michael Hinze, Margaret Kay, Don Dickson,
Dr. Stephen L. Turner, Earl Brown, Donna Womble, Nina
Morris and the secretary, Billie Standefer.
After approval of the minutes and expenditures, the
Chairman asked for Dr. Turner's report.
Dr. Turner reported Influenza and Gastroenteritis as
current most reported Communicable Diseases. He ex-
plained it was almost too late to get a Flu shot because
the Flu season had already started. He stated two cases
of Hepatitis A had been reported and one case of Typhus.
He said one case of Neisseria Meningitidis had been
reported from La Mesa school and asserted this was a
"very serious and quiet deadly" disease.
In closing, Dr. Turner reported Sexually Transmitted
Diseases were on the rise again.
Cezar Cervantez reported:
1. The Department had given a total of 1305 Flu
shots in October and November.
2 He and Mr. Castro met with Dr. Warner and Mary
Strange (representatives from TTHSC and Lubbock
Health Department) to work on area -wide Needs
Assessments. The goal for this planning session
was to determine the top twenty-five needs for
communities and present them to neighborhood
clinics.
3 He had applied for a grant from W.K. Kellog
of Robert W. Johnson Foundation that will be
given to three Health Departments in Texas.
4 He and Mr. Castro planned to attend a Legis-
lative meeting in Austin on the 17th of December
concerning the expansion of Medicaid, making
children eighteen (18) years of age eligible
for the program and changing poverty level to
200%. This would help determine the changes
on local Health Departments.
In the continuing discussion of the smoking ordinance
initiative, Mr. Cervantez again explained the process of
getting signatures, presenting them to the City Secretary
for verification, meeting the dead -line by the May
election, etc.
Mr. Don Dickson stated he had talked to Richard Ligon,
owner of Mc Donald's Restaurant about a meeting of all
restaurant owners concerning the smoking ordinance. He
said Mr. Ligon"did not support" this idea and "didn't
know what it would accomplish." He explained the
December 14th meeting was to make a few changes in the
ordinance and to discuss getting people to work the
petitions. He also said the ordinance was not just for
restaurants, but for all businesses.
Dr. Turner mentioned again that Mayor Wood had stated
working on the smoking ordinance was a waste of time.
Therefore, he (Dr. Turner) felt all technicality/ or
obstacle should be studied.
Chairman Dr. Linton said the Board would be "on shaky
ground" without legal council.
Mrs. Womble expressed regret the City officials had
placed Health Board members in the position of acting
as a Health Board, and then wouldn't " stand behind
them" on health issues.
Mr. Cervantez said he would like for the Smoking
Ordinance Committee to study the section, "Actions
on Petitions". He stated if they missed the May
deadline, there would have to be a vote, anyway,
according to the City Charter.
There was a discussion concerning volunteers for
gathering 1,500 signatures on petitions. The consensus
was the signatures would not be hard to get.
A question concerning teen -pregnancies was presented.
Mr. Cervantez told Board members he had held inservices
for eight classes at Coronado Jr. High about teen -preg-
nancies on December llth. He stated his presentations
gave abstinence as the only choice. He explained he
was more that happy to speak about teen -pregnancy with
young people and welcomed their questions.
Excused absences were allowed for Dr. Janet Cruz,
Cyndi Ebeling and Benny Cantwell and the meeting
was adjourned.
Billie Standefer
Secretary