WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 03/10/2023 WICHITA FALLS-WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES
44' 0,cauNrrPveG0 March 10. 2023
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Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District
1700 Third Street - Clements Conference Room
Wichita Falls, Texas
Public Health
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Keith Williamson, M.D., Chair Physician—City Appointment
Nichole Jefferson, RN Registered Nurse—City Appointment
Jered Harlan, D.V.M. Veterinarian —City Appointment
Melissa Plowman Restaurant Association —City Appointment
BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED ABSENCE:
Paris Ward, M.A.B.S. Citizen At-Large—City Appointment
Tonya Egloff, D.D.S. Dentist—County Appointment
Raymond Forsythe Citizen At-Large— County Appointment
OTHERS PRESENT:
Amy K. Fagan. M.P.A. Interim Director of Health
Michael Smith Council Liaison
Mark Beauchamp County Commissioner
I. CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Williamson, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm after a quorum of members attained.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ABSENCES
Dr. Williamson called for the review and approval of the January 13,2023 minutes.
A motion was made by Nichole Jefferson to accept the minutes and Melissa Plowman seconded. The minutes
were approved unanimously.
Excused absences noted for Dr.Tonya Egloff, Raymond Forsythe & Paris Ward.
III. HEALTH DISTRICT FLOODING UPDATE
Amy spoke of the updates after the flood. Sensors were installed in the basement that will notify her if
it is flooding. There has been a lot of work in the last 72 days. The power was restored last week on
day 61. We have 17 staff back in the building. We had no disruption of services except for the Lab
and the day right after Christmas. Everyone should be back in the building by March 17t'', St. Patrick's
Day. Then we will have a Homecoming Party.
Mr. Smith asked about the moneys coming out of the Budget.
Amy stated no money will come out of the FY23 general fund for Health Budget.
The City did have Insurance coverage and will cover the large equipment. Amy has offered to use
some of our Budget to cover paint, paper and flooring that was damaged. The City has a special fund
for the flood and is replacing things that need to be replaced.
Mr. Smith asked if we increased the energy efficiency of the building or modernized it any?
Amy said yes, energy efficiencies are built in with the new Chiller and switch gear.
It is hard to balance the temperature in the building and this efficiencies should really help.
Mr. Smith thanked Amy for all her work.
Amy thank him, but said the employees are the ones that have done so much.
Amy said we will be starting a new renovation of the front reception area and restrooms
Dr. Williamson said he was glad we continued all our services without interruption and the City was so
supportive.
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OVERVIEW
Samantha Blair introduced herself and that she is the Environmental Administrator. She wanted to
tell everyone about who they are and what they do. Environmental has 1.0 full and some part time
workers. There is a Sr. Admin Clerk and 8 inspectors, 2 are Public Health Officers, 6 are Sanitarians,
2 are in training. She has part time Vector control employees that spray for mosquitos.
Their primarily responsible for retail Food Permits and Inspections.
Public and Semi-Public Aquatic Facility Permits and Inspections.
Grease Trap and Waste Haulers Permit and Inspections. (Limited to City of Wichita Falls)
Lodging Permits and Inspections
Body Art Establishment Permits and Inspections. (Limited to City of Wichita Falls)
Public Health and Safety Inspections of: school buildings, daycare facilities and foster homes.
On-Site Sewage Facility (septic system) Permits and Inspections.
Soft Serve testing and inspections.
An inspector on-call 24/7 for after hour emergencies and temporary events on weekends.
They do go into Clay County and inspect City owned lake lots around Arrowhead and Kickapoo Lakes.
Last year they issued 1,937 permits, 4,929 inspections and 521 complaints. Each program is
conducted throughout the county and the programs collect fees for services. In FY 2022, $379,663.12
was generated in revenue from fees. The Environmental Health Division also provided several
educational opportunities to their facilities.
Mr. Smith asked what are the most common complaints?
Samantha said the most common complaints start with customer service at a restaurants then food.
Trouble with Mosquitos are also very common.
As far as daycares we do a facility check and a kitchen inspection. We are not the primary authority.
In 2022 City Council approved a suggested revision to the Lodging ordinance. The goal was to ensure
the ordinance was clear on what constituted a lodging establishment and to ensure the rules were in
line with the Food Establishment ordinance. With the advent of short-term residential rentals, it was
important to ensure language was clear as to what constituted a short-term rental, a bed and breakfast
and a lodging establishment. A short term rental is NOT regulated in any way by this ordinance. Other
changes included clarifications on permit posting, bed bug management procedures, allowance of
establishment provided corded cooking equipment in kitchenettes, and language updates such as
removing gendered pronouns.
In Addition Environmental Health Division is also responsible for mosquito surveillance and control.
The vector control program has continued to strengthen its focus on increasing surveillance of
mosquitoes in Wichita County. In Wichita County we have 40 different varieties of mosquitoes.
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Surveillance is the foundation of a strong mosquito control program and was emphasized so as to
establish reliable baseline knowledge on which informed decisions about remediation can be made.
Mosquito surveillance includes sampling for all forms of the mosquito life cycle including eggs, larvae,
pupae and adults. Over the 2022 season, "stink water" baited, gravid adult mosquito trap collections
were made and sent to the DSHS for arbovirus testing. Of the samples submitted, 3 returned positive
for West Nile Virus. Other forms of adult surveillance used include the use of dry ice baited CDC Light
Traps.
Mosquito breeding sites are any place water is allowed to stand for at least 48 hrs. The mosquito
breeding sites routinely checked by the vector control program include everything for irrigation culverts,
potholes and abandoned tires to entire city parks or mile-long roadside ditches. A total of 133 blister
packs were distributed to citizens in the 2022 season and the basic information of all recipients was
recorded. The program operates a fleet of truck mounted Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) pesticide sprayers
meant to kill flying adults. Over the season, 85 spray missions were accomplished. Adulticide
applications were made with Deltagard or Fyfanon EW.
Samantha showed pictures and described the different type of Mosquitos we have in Wichita County.
In Wichita County the West Nile Virus is our biggest concern with the Mosquitos.
Samantha went over some Texas Legislative Session Bills to watch for.
Amy spoke about ordinances and let the Board members know what the procedure is. And what the
Board members responsibility is. Anytime we have an ordinances that we need to change, we work
on it internally. We have stakeholder meetings with any of the involved parties. Then we take it to the
Board of Health for them to give their input. If there are changes they are made and brought back the
parties involved. It is about a 6 month process.
Dr. Williamson asked about church kitchens being invited to attend kitchen safety training.
Samantha said yes and they should also have a food handler's card. The larger kitchens are inspected
regularly. They are talked to by the inspectors and questions are answered. The inspectors make
sure they know all the rules.
Melissa asked if churches need commercial kitchens.
Samantha said yes, if they are routinely cooking for the public. If they are cooking for a congregation
then they can have a regular cooking kitchen.
V. NEXT MEETING DATE
Next meeting will be May 12, 2023.
VI. ADJOURN
Dr.Williamson adjourned the meeting at 12:50.4S g ature /
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Print- Keith Williamson, MD, Chair, Tonya Egloff, D.D.S., Vice-Chair, Paris Ward, MA, BS,
Secretary
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