January 30, 2024 Board of Health Meeting Minutes

Otero County Board of Health Meeting

January 30, 2024, 11:00 am
Otero County Courthouse, Rm. 107
La Junta, Colorado

Members Present: 
Dr. Paul Yoder, President and Medical Officer
Dr. R.J. Nelson, Vice President
Lindsey Hart
Mark McCuistion
Dr. David Trujillo

Ex Officio:
Jim Baldwin, Otero County Commissioner
Richard Ritter, BOH Secretary, OCHD Executive Director 
Amy White-Tanabe, Otero County Administrator

Commissioners:
Tim Knabenshue, Otero County
Rob Oquist, Otero County

OCHD Attorney: 
Nate Shultz, J.D.

OCHD Staff:
Marie Mora-Menges, Nursing Program Director
Chris Coffield, RHC
Su Korbitz, Environmental Services Program Director
Dr. Janell Maier, Disease Prevention & Control/EPR Program Director
John Miller, Business Manager

Minutes

1. Call to Order: A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by P. Yoder.  
2. Public Notice Posting (Pursuant to C.R.S. 25-1-509(2)(f), C.R.S. 24-6-402 (2)(c)(I), & C.R.S. 24-6-402(2)(c)(III)): The 2024 BOH meeting schedule was posted on the BOH website on 11/30/2023, and this agenda was posted in the designated public locations by 1/26/2024. Due to technical difficulties, it was not posted on the website.
3. Public Comment: There were no public comments for items not on the agenda.
4. Consent Agenda (ACTION ITEM)
   1. Approval of Minutes
      a. November 28th, 2023 Regular BOH Meeting (Previously sent on 11/29/2023 & 1/26/2024)
   2. Approval of Consent Agenda and Approval/Ratification of Items Therein: R. Nelson moved to approve the consent agenda and ratify the item therein, L. Hart seconded, motion carried.
5. Old Business: None
6. New Business
   1. Budget (Pursuant to C.R.S. 25-1-508 (5)(k) & C.R.S. 25-1-511 (3)) 
      1. Financial Summary Report (Based upon Tyler Financial Systems reports dated 1/29/2024)
         • November 2023
           • Revenues: $278,012.68 
           • Expenditures: $125,847.92
           • Surplus: $152,164.76
           • Fund Balance: $2,614,555.69 
         • December 2023
           • Revenues: $151,560.73
           • Expenditures: $132,707.19
           • Surplus: $18,853.54
           • Fund Balance: $2,633,409.23
      2. Approval of Expenditures (ACTION ITEM): D. Trujillo moved to approve the November 2023 & December 2023 expenditures in the amounts of $125,847.92 & $132,707.19 respectively, M. McCuistion seconded, motion carried.
      3. 2023 Crowley County Per Capita Contribution: Crowley County has contributed $16,197 to OCHD for its 2023 local per capita contribution. This support amounts to $3.00 per capita, which matches Otero’s contribution. This contribution satisfies the statutory requirement found at C.R.S. 25-1-512 (1)(b)(I).
      4. 2023 Otero County Per Capita Contribution: Otero County has contributed $56,493 to OCHD for its 2023 local per capita contribution. This support amounts to $3.00 per capita, which matches Crowley’s contribution. This contribution satisfies the statutory requirement found at C.R.S. 25-1-512 (1)(b)(I). 
   2. Dr. Trujillo’s BOH Reappointment: The Otero County Commissioners have reappointed Dr. Trujillo to the BOH, thanks for serving another term, Dr. Trujillo!
   3. 2024 Crowley & Otero Counties Approved Holidays: The lists of approved Crowley & Otero County Government holidays were e-mailed to the BOH on 1/29/2024.
   4. 2024 Public Notice Posting Placements (Pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402(2)(c) (ACTION ITEM): Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 24-6-402(2)(c)(III) states “…a local public body shall be deemed to have given full and timely notice of a public meeting if the local public body posts the notice, with specific agenda information if available, no less than twenty-four hours prior to the holding of the meeting on a public website of the local public body… A local public body that posts a notice of a public meeting on a public website pursuant to this subsection (2)(c)(III) may in its discretion also post a notice by any other means including in a designated public place pursuant to subsection (2)(c)(I) of this section; except that nothing in this section shall be construed to require such other posting. A local public body that posts notices of public meetings on a public website pursuant to this subsection (2)(c)(III) shall designate a public place within the boundaries of the local public body at which it may post a notice no less than twentyfour hours prior to a meeting if it is unable to post a notice online in exigent or emergency circumstances such as a power outage or an interruption in internet service that prevents the public from accessing the notice online.” C.R.S. 25-4-402(2)(c)(I) states “…In addition to any other means of full and timely notice, a local public body shall be deemed to have given full and timely notice if the notice of the meeting is posted in a designated public place within the boundaries of the local public body no less than twenty-four hours prior to the holding of the meeting. The public place or places for posting such notice shall be designated annually at the local public body’s first regular meeting of each calendar year…”
      1. The essence of these statutes are as follows:
         • With online posting, you do not have to post notices physically unless digital posting is temporarily not available due to technology/emergency issues. OCHD posts digital notices.
           • The BOH must designate a location(s) to post physical notices if the situation warrants.
         • In addition to digital posting, the BOH may continue to post physical notices. If this choice is made, then the BOH must designate the physical locations on an annual basis at their first meeting of the calendar year.
      2. R. Ritter respectfully recommends the following to the BOH:
         • Continue with regular physical postings. This will then serve to meet the physical posting requirements for technology/emergency issues that interfere with digital posting.
         • Previously, the BOH has approved the lobby area for the La Junta and Rocky Ford offices and outside the door to the Ordway office. These locations are conspicuous to the public, and R. Ritter recommends these same locations to the BOH for 2024.
      3. M. McCuistion moved to approve the recommendations of R. Ritter as written above, D. Trujillo seconded, motion carried.
7. Program Reports: Program reports were not given to allow the BOH more time to participate in the annual BOH training, which directly followed this meeting.
8. Executive Session: Not requested nor required.
9. Adjournment: With no further business, P. Yoder adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Richard Ritter
Secretary, Otero County Board of Health
Executive Director, Otero County Health Department