WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 01/28/2011WICHITA FALLS - WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES
January 28, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Richard Sutton, M.D., Chair
Bryan Press, Vice Chair
Robin Moreno, M.T., Secretary
David Carlston, Ph.D.
Tracy Hill, D.D.S.
MEMBERS ABSENCE EXCUSED:
Clay Clark, D.V.M.
Lauren Jansen, R.N.C.
Lou Franklin, R.N., B.S.N.
Amy Cone, M.P.A.
Not Present
Kevin Hugman
Not Present
Woodrow R. "Woody" Gossom, Jr.
Animal Services Center
1207 Hatton Road
Wichita Falls, Texas
Board Members
Director of Health
Assistant Director of Health
Health Authority
Assistant City Manager
Council Liaison
County Judge
I. CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Dr. Sutton called the Board of Health meeting to order at 12:15 pm after a quorum of members was
attained.
II. APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 2010 MEETING MINUTES AND ABSENCES
Dr. Sutton called for the review and approval of minutes from the last meeting held on October 22, 2010.
Dr. Hill introduced a motion to approve the minutes as presented and Bryan Press seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
At this time it was noted the excused absence of Dr. Clark and Lauren Jansen.
III. CITY OF WICHITA FALLS ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER UPDATE
Lou Franklin welcomed the Board and thanked them for their contribution of work and guidance. Ms.
Franklin presented an overview of the facility; approximately 12,000 square feet, 34 general population dog
kennels, 10 quarantine dog kennels, 9 cat isolation cages, 12 cat quarantine cages, and 18 cage cat display
areas. There is a separate air return exchange system for infection control so that the air is not circulated in
the building all the air is taken outside and clean air brought in. The unit is able to monitor inside humidity
and temperature; sensors in the return air ducts can sense the high level of humidity and further de- humidify
the outside air brought in to bring the humidity level down. The dog kennels have a flush trench system that
is effective in waste disposal. The back bay area has garage doors that are key card operated so that the
Animal Control Officers can pull in and unload animals.
Susan Morris as a Registered Sanitarian took the position as Environmental Health Administrator and
handled Animal Control until the Animal Services Administrator position was filled. Vector Control moved
into Environmental Health and Animal Control and Shelter was established as a division.
Ms. Franklin introduced Katrena Mitchell as the new Animal Services Administrator who is responsible for
all the Animal Control Officers and the day to day operations of the shelter.
IV. ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER ADMINISTRATOR AND TOUR
Katrena Mitchell stated her vocational background is 16 years in the mental health field with a side hobby
for all those years in animal rescue work. She is with a Wichita Falls Border collie rescue group,
volunteered for years with area Humane Society's in Wichita Falls, Graham, Vernon and Clay County
shelters, teaches obedience and agility classes all her dogs are rescues she understands the animal
behavioral part looks forward to get the animals in.
Reclaim numbers are currently low, and her goal is to increase reclaim numbers to make sure people are
aware to come to the Animal Services Center so they can get their animals back home. Another big goal is
more spay and neuter education for citizens. Those are two big goals for the Division. She also plans to
work with local rescue groups out of the Dallas -Fort Worth area and Oklahoma City so they can find homes
for animals the Humane Society can not put up for adoption. Ms. Franklin stated 5 additional staff members
had been hired, including 4 kennel assistants to clean and take care of the animals on a daily basis and the
Vet Tech position.
Some of the new changes through negotiations with the Humane Society are they will no longer take
animals from the citizens of Wichita Falls. Animals turned in by residents of Wichita Falls should go to the
Animal Services Center; a fee is assessed for owned animals that are turned in. Animals that are reclaimed
must be vaccinated for rabies, and there is not currently a veterinarian on staff. A voucher program was
designed to allow citizens to purchase a $12 voucher that can be redeemed at local veterinarian's offices.
The citizen must provide proof that the rabies vaccine has been given within 10 days or they will be issued a
ticket.
Another new service is owner requested euthanasia for an animal that was in an accident or end of life
issues for owners that have no relationship with a vet. The Humane Society had provided this service to the
citizens of Wichita Falls and it was felt important for those that had been utilizing the service. Microchips
will be offered to an owner who reclaims their animal. They will be charged $15 if the animal is city
licensed, if buying a license at the time will only charge $8 to encourage them to microchip. Councilor
Smith worked diligently at council meetings and with citizens to get enough donations so that microchip
scanners are on all the Animal Control trucks. The first thing done when an animal is picked up is to scan
them if they can get the information find out where they go they can get them back home first. The owner
can buy either a one or three year city license that must run concurrent with the rabies vaccination. There is
a break if they purchase a three year license as long as they provide proof of the 3 year rabies.
Ms. Franklin understood from the last council meeting the Humane Society is to take only animals from
those towns in Wichita County and the unincorporated areas of Wichita County. Currently they take
animals as far away as Cedar Hill, Chico, Archer, Clay, Bowie, Montague, Baylor and Oklahoma. They had
some concerns about what they could handle once they would not receive the monthly city reclaim services
fee. It was entered into agreement on a one year contract to pay $15,000 per year for the Humane Society
to do adoptions for the Animal Services Center that will be reevaluated at a years end. At the back of the
facility is an acre and a half that has been entered into a lease agreement with the Humane Society; they
have 2 years from the day of the Animal Service Center opening to build or the lease becomes null and
void.
V
Ms. Franklin announced that the Animal Service Center dedication will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. with the
building being open to the public for business on Tuesday morning. She commented that the facility had
been the dream and vision of a lot of people over the last 3 years and that there are many people who have
put a great deal of heart and hard work into the facility that will be evident during the tour.
V. NEXT MEETING DATE
February 25, 2011
VI. ADJOURN
Dr. Sutton requested a motion to adjourn. The motion was made by Dr. Carlson and seconded by
Bryan Press. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Richard Sutton, M.D., Chair, Bryan Press, Vice Chair, or Robin Moreno, M.T., Secretary
Public Health Board
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