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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-11-2020 Health & Human Services Minutes MEETING MINUTES HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BOARD November 11, 2020 5:00 PM Room 1284-County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 - Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin NOTICE Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in St. Croix County and the number of attendees at previous meetings, public comment will only be available via Zoom. We want to ensure the safety of everyone who wishes to share public comment. You can attend in-person to watch the meeting on the screens in the County Board Room. No Board Supervisors, Committee Members, or County Staff will be present in the County Board Room during the meeting. Please use the link below to attend the Zoom meeting remotely. <https://us02web.zomm.us/j/84659616614?pwd=QkVyLzdIRzJvTWcra3dzQndDaXE3QT09> Dial In: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 846 5961 6614 Passcode: 376592 CALL TO ORDER The November 11, 2020 meeting of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Board was called to order at approximately 5:00 PM by HHS Board Chair Dave Ostness. Chair Ostness recognized our Veterans and thanked them for their service. Corporation Counsel Scott Cox addressed everyone regarding the concerns of accessibility of tonight's meeting and in regard to participation in public comment. He informed that each Board can determine how public comment will be received and for tonight the Health and Human Services Board Chair decided to allow for public comment via technology, both Zoom & telephone, in order to keep everyone safe during this pandemic. The Health and Human Services Board Chair can also limit the time allowed for public comment. Accessibility to the meeting is being met by having the County Board room open for viewing as well as providing a recording link found on the County website. Corporation Counsel Cox stated we are in compliance of the open meeting laws. Chair Ostness then shared some history on how the Health and Human Services Board got to where we are tonight regarding the potential ordinance. The HHS Board will consider the ordinance tonight and based on their decision will determine next steps for the ordinance. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Cathy LeafSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent Carah Koch St. Croix County Supervisor Absent Dave Ostness St. Croix County Chair Present Scottie Ard St. Croix County Supervisor Present Greg Tellijohn St. Croix County Supervisor Present Paulette Anderson St. Croix County Vice-Chair Present Deb Lindemann St. Croix County Board Member Present Natasha Ward St. Croix County Board Member Present Paul McGinnis St. Croix County Board Member Present Others in Attendance Remotely: Assistant County Administrator Ken Witt, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, Health and Human Services Director Bob Rohret, Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen, SCC Epidemiologist Elle Klasen, Board Members and many other community members Excused absences: Carah Koch APPROVAL OF MINUTES No approval of minutes tonight, they will be brought to next week's meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT This meeting is entirely digital. There is no in-person public comment option for this meeting. Please use the Zoom login or call-in information to participate. Use the raise hand feature or *9 for call-in to notify the host of your request to make a public comment. Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Dave Ostness opened the meeting to public comment for items on or off the agenda. He informed that public comment will be limited to 1 hour. A large crowd was in attendance in the Boardroom and online tonight, of which a significant number of community members addressed the Board regarding the role of the Public Health Officer and the potential communicable disease ordinance. After hearing many of those wishing to speak, and extending the time for public comment by a half hour, Chair Ostness called public comment closed at approximately 6:30 PM. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Public Health and Covid-19 Update Public Health Officer Kelli Engen thanked everyone for participating tonight and also gave a thanks to all Veterans. She then introduced St. Croix County Epidemiologist Elle Klasen. Klasen shared a power point with the HHS Board highlighting recent data on COVID-19. Cases are trending up with the most exposure being within the community or within the household. She also shared an update on the activity at the WI National Guard testing sites in Hammond and Somerset. Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen informed the Board about the role of Public Health and all the things that they are involved in with this pandemic, as well as changes made to "crisis standards of care" within the division as cases become overwhelming. Discussion, questions and comments from the Board members regarding some of the data and their concerns around COVID-19. Chair Ostness acknowledged the Public Health staff for their great work. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. An Ordinance Creating Chapter 41 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinance Entitled "Covid-19 Communicable Disease Ordinance" Board member McGinnis shared his concerns regarding COVID-19 and the increase in spread. He wanted to emphasize the concerns about the inability for public health and hospitals to keep up. There is solid evidence that masks work via data from hospitals/health care facilities and nursing homes. He believes our communities need to change our behavior and follow the same protocols. Supervisor Anderson shared her concern about the 'ticketing' and enforcement of those not wearing masks and the impact it could have on law enforcement. Supervisor Leaf made a motion to put the ordinance on the table for discussion. Corporation Counsel Cox informed the Board that this doesn't have to be on the table for discussion to happen. Corporation Counsel Cox shared that he has made 6 different revision drafts of the ordinance. This current version incorporated all the statutory powers of the Public Health Officer and made any order that the Health Officer gave be enforcible by citation or other legal means. He made the ordinance specific to COVID-19 and to last one year and then repeal. It would provide a metric in which the Public Health Officer could issue an order, if deemed reasonable and necessary at the time, that had been pre approved by County Board which provides over site. This ordinance would give the authority to issue an enforceable order if a certain metric has been met. This metric is based on the Harvard Path to Zero model, and when the red level is met (25 cases per 100,000 people) the Public Health Officer could issue two types of orders: 1. A mask order and 2. A limit to public gatherings. These mirror the states orders. These orders would be good for 14 days and renewed if necessary. (Still in the red zone) Cox is requesting one revision under 41.05 to be amended to contain a prefatory statement after the title stating; pursuant to Wis. Stat. 252.03 the Local Health Officer has the duty to promptly take all measures necessary to prevent and suppress and control the spread of communicable diseases when the local health officer determines that orders are necessary to prevent and suppress and control the spread of COVID-19. The Local Health Officer is authorized to issue enforceable orders regarding face coverings and limiting public gatherings under the following circumstances. Cox stated that nothing requires the Board to adopt this draft version of the ordinance, you could make changes or go back to version number 3. Questions and discussion from the Board regarding enforcement of this ordinance. Supervisor Leaf made a motion to adopt an ordinance Creating Chapter 41 of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinance Entitled "COVID-19 Communicable Disease Ordinance" with added language as amended by Corporation Counsel Cox. Board Member McGinnis made a 2nd to the motion. Discussion. Supervisor Anderson again voiced her concern over enforcing masking. Board Member Lindemann shared that this is a crisis, things are bad and as the health board we need to do something. Supervisor Ard agrees, though enforcement with $100 seems like nothing, we should consider increasing the amount. We need to be proactive as incidents are rising. People need to take a personal responsibility and wear a mask to flatten the curve. Supervisor Ard would like to amend proposed ordinance to be effective and worked with until Jan. 31, 2021. Supervisor Leaf seconded this amendment. A voice vote was taken on the amendment with effective time frame ending Jan. 31, 2021. All were in favor; the amendment moves forward. Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek encouraged everyone to go to the St. Croix County website and the COVID -19 info link. The proposed ordinance and FAQ's that address concerns can be found there. Additional comments and discussion among the Board regarding enforcement and risk levels. Board Member McGinnis shared he believes we are being very clear and transparent by staying with ordinance where it is at, it will sunset at the end of January and can be looked at and changed then if we feel the need. Review of the motion by Corporation Counsel Cox; to move forward with the ordinance as drafted with prefatory language added under 41.05 after the title stating; pursuant to Wis. Stat. 252.03 the Local Health Officer has the duty to promptly take all measures necessary to prevent and suppress and control the spread of communicable diseases when the local health officer determines that orders are necessary to prevent and suppress and control the spread of COVID-19. The Local Health Officer is authorized to issue enforceable orders regarding face coverings and limiting public gatherings under the following circumstances: points A and B of Section 41.05 will remain the same. Also, an amendment passed that makes the sunset Jan. 31, 2021. A voice vote was taken. Motion carried by a 7 to 1 vote. Discussion on scheduling a special meeting of the County Board of Supervisors. The ordinance will move to the County Board of Supervisors at their next meeting. RESULT: RECOMMENDED \[7 TO 1\] Next: 11/17/2020 7:00 PM MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor SECONDER: Paul McGinnis, Board Member AYES: Cathy Leaf, Dave Ostness, Scottie Ard, Greg Tellijohn, Deb Lindemann, Natasha Ward, Paul McGinnis NAYS: Paulette Anderson ABSENT: Carah Koch REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Ostness asked if there are any requests for future agenda items. With no requests voiced, the Board is reminded to contact Chair Ostness or HHS Director Rohret if anything comes up prior to next meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Bob Rohret gave thanks to the HHS Board for their support throughout this entire pandemic response. He shared that employees are always, not just during a pandemic, looking to improve the health and wellbeing of St. Croix County residents. ADJOURN HHS Board Chair Ostness called this November 11, 2020 meeting of the HHS Board adjourned at approximately 7:50 PM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING November 18, 2020 @ 5:00 PM in the Government Center Boardroom. This again will be a virtual meeting via Zoom to allow for everyone's safety.