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WC CWF Health District Board Minutes - 01/22/2016WICHITA FALLS -WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD MINUTES January 22, 2016 Wichita Falls -Wichita County Public Health District 1700 Third Street - Parker Conference Room BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Plowman, Chair Julie Gibson, D.V.M., Vice -Chair Diane Stewart, R.N., Secretary Robin Moreno, MHA -HSA, ACHE Keith Williamson, M.D. David Carlston, Ph.D. Larry Rains, D.D.S BOARD MEMBERS ABSENCE: None OTHERS PRESENT: Lou Kreidler, R.N., B.S.N. Amy Fagan, M.P.A. Stephen Santellana Woodrow W. Gossom, Jr. Wichita Falls, Texas Restaurant Association -City Veterinarian -City Registered Nurse -City Citizen At -Large -City Physician -City Citizen At -Large -County Dentist -County Director of Health Assistant Director of Health Council Liaison Wichita County Judge I. CALL TO ORDER Scott Plowman called the Health Board meeting to order at 12:00 pm after a quorum of members was attained. 11. MEMBER RE -APPOINTMENTS Wichita County Judge Woodrow W. Gossom, Jr. conducted the following Health Board re -appointments; ➢ County Appointed Representative Larry Rains, DDS - Dentist ➢ City Appointed Representatives Julie Gibson, DVM - Veterinarian Robin Moreno - Citizen At -Large Scott Plowman - Texas Restaurant Association Member III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Dr. Larry Rains introduced a motion to re -nominate Scott Plowman as Chair and Robin Moreno seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Scott Plowman introduced a motion to re -nominate Dr. Julie Gibson as Vice -Chair and Dr. David Carlston seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Scott Plowman introduced a motion to re -nominate Diane Stewart as Secretary and Dr. David Carlston seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. IV. TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT Lou Kreidler affirmed that the State of Texas requires all members of Boards and Commissions that hold open public meetings must complete the Texas Open Meetings Act training and submit their certificate of completion to the Health District for record with the City Clerk. The training link would be emailed to the members that need to complete the training. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ABSENCES Scott Plowman called for the review and approval of minutes from the meeting held on Friday November 13, 2015. Dr. Rains introduced a motion to approve the minutes as presented and Dr. Carlston seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. At this time it was noted no absences. VI. ANIMAL SERVICES OVERVIEW Katrena Mitchell the Animal Services Administrator presented the overview of the Animal Services Center (ASC) located at the corner of Hatton Road and Hwy 281 that currently staffs 17 with projection to add staff in a couple of months. Five years ago on January 31, 2011 was the ASC Open House there has been a great deal of learning, growing, educating along the way and the cages kept full unfortunately. Last year the City Council approved a new addition for the Center pre -construction has begun with an estimated completion date at the end of June of this year 2016. The new addition will be the adoption wing with 14 extra kennels to hold dogs for the adoption program it will help keep the euthanasia numbers down even though the numbers are slowly going down. An average of 350 dogs and cats are brought in each month those are owner surrenders, strays brought in by Wichita Falls citizens, by Animal Control Officers, and Law Enforcement referrals of any trapped animals. Stray holds are 3-5 days, 3 days if no collar, tag, or micro -chip and 5 days if a collar, tag, micro -chip, or the owners are known. Once their time expires they are transferred to one of the ASC adoption partners those being the Wichita County Humane Society, local Rescue groups, as well as all sorts of Rescue groups across the State of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and anywhere else. Animal Services participates in the local Rescue groups for Love on Wheels program that sends dogs to New York where they have a long waiting list of people that want dogs. The dock arrive in New York within 4-5 days on a Saturday morning when the shelter opens there are 30-35 people in line just this week the 500th dog was sent out which was a dog from Animal Services. The last transport had 29 dogs from the ASC Adoption program that had been held here for 30 days all the dogs had been adopted it is a great program and resource for Animal Services. The local Rescue groups pay all the vet care here approximately $150-$200 per animal, the shelter in New York pays the transport company fees around $150, and the shelter keeps the adoption fees. New York seems to have more responsible pet owners they spay and neuter their laws are not any stricter they have better control but they do still have a lot of Pit Bulls and Chihuahuas as here. The ASC not only gets dogs and cats but horses, ferrets, bunnies, guinea pigs, a little bit of everything. Dr. Carlston asked how the new adoption wing would affect the relationship with the Humane Society. Katrena Mitchell replied they would still be one of the ASC partners continue to come out pull animals for adoption with an estimated 350-400 dogs and cats every month into the shelter there are plenty to go around the ASC adoptions started on April 18, 2014. The City License program basically is the animals get out of jail free card when licensed their information is immediately available to get them back home without transport to the Shelter and assists with their Rabies control. Compared to previous years last year did not have as many positive rabies cases only 10 positive; 8 skunks, 1 puppy, 1 cat. The cat originated from Archer County and the puppy was in Wichita County out of a litter of 9 puppies given away for free in Clay County outside Henrietta on a small farm Animal Services worked with all sorts of jurisdictions in the matter. Animal Services brought in one puppy that showed symptoms had it tested, one puppy died before tested being inconclusive it had to be treated as positive, and the other ones that were able to be tested came back negative. In the puppy scenario 27 people got treated with post exposure rabies vaccinations, the inconclusive puppy was with a lady that ran a daycare in Iowa Park, the Animal Control Officers that handled the puppy, and 5 in the family with the first puppy had to be treated. The cat out of Archer County was around Christmas time the people had a big Christmas holiday party the 9 people out of the party that handled the cat had to be 2 treated. It had been decades since a positive cas 3 was seen in a domesticated dog or cat in the area. It is not known if people have not vaccinated become complacent. Rabies continues to be seen in the wild life the year before rabies was found in a raccoon, fox, and bats. Four rabies shots are given and five when immune compromised now the shots are at the entry of the bite. Katrena Mitchell was headed out of town but within the first hour when the results on the puppy came back positive Animal Services immediately went to Henrietta tracked down the location of the puppies started a case investigation with the Clay County Sheriff Department that was great to work with but the last puppy was not found. The State got involved due to the large number of people there was a lot of great work between many different agencies. It was discovered that the families that did not have a family doctor had trouble to get the vaccination because of the ER's refusal to administer the vaccine but Dr. Mattar of the Family Health Center was more than generous to hold a Saturday clinic to administer the vaccine to those families. The Animal Service offers trap rental, micro -chipping, community education, youth group tours, attends different events, and euthanasia for the public at a minimum cost for individuals that cannot afford the Veterinarians cost. In 2014 the ASC Adoption program began currently with 496 shelter animals it limits the number of animals to be held for adoption the new wing should help to alleviate that issue. The program has an adoption fee and clients choice of the vet to spay and neuter that the doctor pays. The community accepted and welcomed the program their great response has helped educate the community of all the services at the Animal Service Center. Adoptions are not limited to Wichita Falls or area citizens some had been from the Dallas -Ft Worth area, California, and North Carolina. All Animal Control trucks are wrapped with outreach messages about spaying and neutering, micro -chipping and licensing. A Barn Cat program is offered to individuals that have warehouses and barns to adopt feral cats and kittens for free but with a requirement to spay and neuter and vaccinate for rabies. Animal Services did a seizure of 24 spayed and neutered feral cats living in a house at the hearing the cats were awarded to the ASC through the Barn Cat program all found homes and none had to be euthanized the program is another option for animals to get out of the shelter alive. The Chaining ordinance in Wichita Falls does not allow to chain or tether your dog outside unless you are standing within 50 feet of the dog. The Chain Off program through the P.E.T.S. clinic builds fences for in need citizens that cannot afford a fence they have been a great help for those to keep their dog. The program has built about 120-130 fences within the last couple of years with about one more year in contract with the City it is a good program. Dogs are continued to be found chained with the citizen unaware of the ordinance the dog has to be taken off the chain at that moment and time is given to build a fence or get with the Chain Off program if applicable a ticket can still be issued if the issue persists. Wichita Falls requires a Breeding permit to breed your dog or cat there also are Breeders license, Sellers license and a Stud permit. There are complaints received from listings on Craigslist, Facebook, and the Trading Post that are followed-up by Animal Service personnel that piatend to be a buyer to meet and educate the sellers. They are given a chance to get a permit the fee can be waived if they agree to spay and neuter their animals some do not agree because that is how they supplement their income so are required to pay the fee. Animal Service employees do not always have the time to interact and give the animals one on one attention the shelter stays full and the volunteers are great to come out and interact with the animals. Volunteers have to be of 12+ years of age fill out the packet, pass a criminal background check, abe able to walk dogs and play with the cats. ASC has a fairly good social media impact everything brought in is photographed immediately and automatically listed on the Petango page for those that have lost a cat or dog can look anytime of the day or night from their phone to see if their pet is at the shelter. An app "Walk for a Dog" are for people who walk and/or active outside with their dog the app is downloaded, ASC chosen, and for every mile walked and/or of activity gives Animal Services a donation some regulars do it constantly. On the ASC Facebook page are posts of adoption photos, animals at the shelter, and different stories to keep everybody up to date on what is going on at Animal Services. Last year with the Adoption partners the work with the Police Department for Fur -Ever Friday and the Fire Department for Heroes and Hounds where every week a different Officer was with an adoptable animal from the ASC or one of the rescue groups was fun and a great way to display community unity that attracted people in to look at the adoptable animals. Scott Plowman asked if the coyotes are a problem he had seen a lot around the area. Katrena Mitchell replied they had received a lot of coyote calls but most times coyotes are going to run 3 they are looking for resources of food, water, shelter, cats (keep the cats in), do not stock the koi pond and do not leave garbage out. Coyotes are good scavengers they adapt easily to their environment make it unwelcome many times they are traveling through but we do have people that like to feed them. A lot of reports are made about deer in the same area as the coyotes so the coyotes may be hunting the deer. Lou Kreidler added that some challenges are to be faced with the construction with the space on where they are adding on at one point the lose of use of half the large dog kennels the construction company has promised to minimize that time as much as possible but there will be a time it will affect the numbers of animals able to be held there are cages available but hopefully it will be a short amount of time. Judge Gossom mentioned the Sheriff Department is working with the Humane Society on a stray animal program it is with a private cowboy it might be advantageous for both to work something out the county could possibly pay for the food. Katrena Mitchell said the Sheriff Department calls a couple times a week to go out to pick up an animal, dog or cat. Judge Gossom stated they do not have the authority outside the City limits. Lou Kreidler stated in reference that unless the Sheriff calls Animal Services does not go outside the County. Katrena Mitchell added it happens frequently with the livestock, even in the City there are sheep, goats, and chickens. Chickens have become popular to have in your backyard for fresh eggs but you have to get a permit. Pot belly pigs are making a comeback the permit states only one under 90 pounds is allowable that must live in the house. Dr. Gibson asked who took the position of Steve Dodge the previous Animal Control Supervisor Katrena Mitchell answered Mandi Davis when the first Rabies outbreak occurred she had only been on the job a day or two that experience was a learning process for everyone. Dr. Williamson commented he had been to the Animal Shelter twice in the last year and the service was great. Katrena Mitchell commended her great team with the comment they all love what they do. VII. NEXT MEETING DATE February 26, 2016 was noted as the next meeting date. Lou Kreidler provided an update on some current issues not on the agenda. The final part of the Smoking Ordinance goes into effect June 17 this year 2016. A delay was made to wait for the outcome of the Council elections but those have moved to November so a meeting has been scheduled in a week in a half with staff about an implementation plan for those establishments grandfathered in for 2 years to emphasize the ordinance effective date. Some establishments have worked on outside patios and different places to offer smoking outside then some have even gone non-smoking rather than wait. The best community example of a restaurant that had a lot of smoking clientele would be P-3 that sold opened back up as non- smoking attributes an increase in business to the change. In an attempt to eliminate any surprise and/or forgetfulness of the effective date notifications are to be made and possibly some television ads. Dr. Gibson asked what to do in an observation with non-compliance of the ordinance 4 Lou Kreidler responded that during the day contact the Health District Environmental Health Division whom enforces the ordinance they would go out investigate the situation. An issue with no signage on the door call with their name and the Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition takes out free signage and provides education if that is ignored then Environmental Health are sent out to write tickets if warranted. Establishments are required when an individual observed inside or outside smoking within the footage limitations to Worm them of the ordinance if they continue to smoke they have to ask them to leave if they do not leave they are to call the Police or Environmental Health. When those procedures are followed the establishment does not get a ticket if not followed both the individual and establishment owner or person in charge at that time can get a ticket. The first full week of April is Public Health Week in recognition Saturday April 9th was designated for the 10th Annual Health Fair mark the calendar to attend. Amy Fagan initiated the idea to celebrate Public Health Week each day to lead up to Saturday to be posted on Facebook; Prepare for Health Monday, Eat for Health Tuesday, Move for Health Wednesday, Vaccinate for Health (family and pets) Thursday, Own your Health Friday (responsibility for your health and make good health choices). A Press Release went out this week on the Zika virus the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries the virus along with the dengue and chikungunka mosquitoes found in the virus are in our county. As people travel get bitten by the mosquito infected by the virus then return eventually it will be here. The virus causes a milder disease as seen in some of the others a fever, rash, muscle joint pains and aches. The press release was issued due ;o concern of the increase in Microcephaly the small brain size in infants when born haven seen over 4,000 cases in Brazil in newborns from mothers whom were infected with the Zika virus. There are not enough studies that have been done to state a definite link and cause but they are definite enough of a causable relationship for women that travel to that area. First it was just pregnant women now it was changed to include women of child bearing age. There was a need for the community to be informed and aware if they planned to go to one of the areas to make good choices for themselves. Dr. Williamson was entertained that they declared the Ebola epidemic over but within 24 hours had another case then a second case today in Sierra Leone. Lou Kreidler responded that the new cases seen are in the survivors so somewhere in the body are the residual Ebola virus. All along they said it could be in the eyes and sperm of men now they deem to be a relationship between sexual contact and the spread of Ebola. They did not diagnosis the individual until they passed away that had been to all places. VIII. ADJOURN The meeting agjournMti pm. Signature C G� P( b tx� �� r�r ►'J Print Name Scott Plowman, Chair, Julie Gibson, D.V.M. Vice -Chair, or Diane StewartRN Secretary Wichita Falls -Wichita County Public Health Board City -County Board 9