02-27-2023 Meeting Minutes BOHMINUTES
PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
FEMA ROOM
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
A regular meeting of the Person County Board of Health was held in the FEMA Room of the
Person County Human Services Building. The following members constituting a quorum were
present: Ted Michie, Dr. Christopher Atkins, Gordon Powell, Dr. Ben Tillett, Dr. Barbara Harris,
Phillip Edelblute and Dr. Stephen Garrett were present. County Attorney Ellis Hankins
participated via phone. Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Patsy Clayton, Dr. Kimberly Yarborough, and Randy
Eakes were absent. Also present were Bonnie Holt, Environmental Health Supervisor, Jennifer
Melton, Administrative Assistant, and Janet Clayton, Health Director.
A. Call to Order
Dr. Christopher Atkins, Vice Chairman of the Board of Health called the meeting to order
at 6:00 p.m.
B. Approval of Agenda
An updated meeting agenda was distributed to board members. A motion to approve the
agenda was made by Gordon Powell, seconded by Ted Michie, and the motion carried.
C. Public Hearing Procedure
County Attorney Ellis Hankins reviewed the public hearing procedure. He emphasized
to the board members the public hearing is a time to receive information from the public
and to take into consideration regarding the item, but not a time for discussion.
D. Public Hearing-Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater
Protection in Person County, North Carolina
Dr. Stephen Garrett made a motion to open the floor for the public hearing session,
seconded by Phillip Edelblute, and the motion carried. Dr. Christopher Atkins opened the
floor for public comment regarding the proposed changes to the Regulations Governing
Well Construction and Groundwater Protection in Person County, North Carolina. Mr.
Trey Barnette and Mr. Paul Weller stated that they were in favor of no longer requiring a
concrete slab 3 1/2” thick and extending 18” beyond the casing. Mr. Paul Weller stated
that he is against not requiring the use of SDR-21 thermoplastic casing. A motion to
adjourn the public hearing was made by Gordon Powell, seconded by Phillip Edelblute,
and the motion carried.
E. Consideration to adopt the Regulations Governing Well Construction and
Groundwater Protection in Person County, North Carolina
Discussion was held by the board members, Bonnie Holt, Environmental Health
Supervisor, Mr. Barnette, and Mr. Weller regarding the proposed changes. A motion to
approve eliminating the requirement of a concrete slab was made by Dr. Barbara Harris,
seconded by Ted Michie, and the motion carried unanimously. A motion to approve
keeping the requirement of using SDR-21 thermoplastic casing was made by Dr.
Barbara Harris, seconded by Phillip Edelblute, and the motion carried unanimously. A
motion to approve the Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater
Protection in Person County, North Carolina noting changes was made by Phillip
Edelblute, seconded by Dr. Stephen Garrett, and the motion carried.
F. Public Comment Period
No members of the public were present for comment.
G. Consent Agenda
A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Gordon Powell, seconded by
Phillip Edelblute, and the motion carried.
H. Financial Reports: January 2023
A motion to approve the financial reports was made by Ted Michie, seconded by Dr.
Stephen Garrett, and the motion carried.
I. Fee Schedule Amendment-Pfizer Bivalent 6mths-4yrs, Moderna Bivalent 6mths-
5yrs, Moderna Bivalent 6yrs-11yrs
CMS has released additional CPT codes for the administration of Pfizer bivalent
vaccine for ages 6mths-4yrs, Moderna Bivalent for ages 6mths-5yrs, and Moderna
Bivalent for ages 6-11. The CPT codes for each vaccine administration will be added to
the current fee schedule. The fee will be $70 which is consistent with the current
administration fee. A motion to accept the fee schedule amendment was made by Phillip
Edelblute, seconded by Ted Michie, and the motion carried.
J. Annual Communicable Disease Report
Janet Clayton distributed and reviewed the 2022 Communicable Disease report. Person
County had 381 reportable cases. 334 cases were sexually transmitted infections with
221 Chlamydia cases, 104 Gonorrhea cases, 7 Syphilis cases and 2 non-gonococcal
urethritis. There were 17 foodborne illness cases and 30 general communicable disease
cases. The report shows a decrease in sexually transmitted infections. Dr. Garrett asked
how the health department was notified of the cases. Ms. Clayton explained the North
Carolina General Statutes require medical providers and laboratories to report certain
communicable diseases to the local public health department within specific timeframes.
Reports are received through facsimile, hard copy, and the North Carolina Electronic
Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS). Many laboratories electronically submit the
report directly to NCEDSS. PCHD staff monitor NCEDSS daily for reports and
investigate cases when a report is received.
K. Staff Liaison Updates
Personal Health
o 2/22 Casey & Hillary completed a FP, STD, MH presentation at Person
High for several school counselors and school nurses.
o All Coordinators are reviewing AA’s for 23-24 and preparing for policy and
standing order annual review.
o CCNC (Community Care of NC) has now moved COVID case
investigation to those 65+ yrs old and populations most likely to have
resource needs; informational calls to provide isolation info, links to
treatment, and resource info; if they find that a case is linked to a
congregate living facility, they will inform us; they use the Social
Vulnerability Index to determine those in need; SVI is an algorithm that
takes into consideration the socioeconomic status, household
composition & disability, minority status & language, and housing type
and transportation to determine potential negative side effects on human
health.
Environmental Health
o Backlog has decreased from 12 weeks to 10 weeks.
o Kenneth Elliott started today so EH is now fully staffed.
o Bonnie and David Helms are investigating an illegal food vendor.
L. Health Director’s Report
Budget
o All components of the budget have been submitted to the county, pending
Board of Health approval.
o I had a mental health funding planning meeting with Katherine Cathey and
Elliot Clark of Vaya on 2/13.
Various Updates-
o Staff are completing Position Profile questionnaires as part of a QI
succession planning initiative.
o The QIA Team and Epi Team held quarterly meetings on 1/25 and 2/23,
respectively.
o The Accreditation Team participated in the annual statewide training on 1/25.
o We are continuing to participate in the Region V Workforce group initiatives.
Staff have been participating in workforce development trainings and will
continue. I am participating in the region HD Leadership trainings with Steve
Orton and John Wiesman.
o Joshua Holland and I met with Thom Schwalenberg, Emergency
Management Director, and Keshav Javvadi, Lead for NC Fellow, to discuss
the Person Co. Continuity of Operations Plan. We shared with them the
PCHD COOP that currently exists in order to not duplicate efforts.
o Bonnie Holt represented EH during the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on
2/6/23, as part of the building-related departments’ update on services.
o The IEQ Committee met on 2/8 to plan future trainings. We are continuing our
internal equity assessments and trainings.
o I attended the monthly NCALHD meetings on 2/15 & 2/16 and the quarterly
meeting of the NC Alliance for Public Health Agencies on 2/14.
o On 2/16, I attended the Person County Animal Services Advisory Board
meeting and the Person County Partnership for Children Board meeting on
2/23.
o The Opioid Settlement Advisory Board is scheduled to meet on 3/6/2023.
o PCHD vital records staff are required to issue Burial-Transit Permits prior to
the removal of deceased persons from the State of North Carolina by funeral
services in Person County. I am formalizing an afterhours procedure for
distribution.
Personnel-
o The following positions are vacant:
Environmental Health Specialist position – Kenneth Elliott joined our
team today as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern.
Community Health Technician I- Part-time
WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor- Part-time position has been
reposted. Interviews are being scheduled.
Next meeting is Monday, March 27th at 6:00 pm.
M. Board Member Remarks
Gordon Powell stated that the county would be receiving more opioid settlement funds,
and he would like to see those funds go towards saving lives and educating our children
regarding opioids.
Janet mentioned that Dr. Ben Tillett is in Washington, DC representing the NALBOH and
the Board of Health at Capitol Hill Day. This annual event is sponsored by NACCHO.
N. Adjournment
Having no further business to discuss, a motion to adjourn was made by Dr. Barbara
Harris, seconded by Phillip Edelblute, and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Clayton
Health Director/Secretary
Dr. Jeffrey Noblett, Board Chair