Otero County Board of Health Meeting
May 28, 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
Member(s) Absent:
None
Ex Officio:
Richard Ritter, BOH Secretary, OCHD Executive Director
Commissioners:
Rob Oquist, Otero County
OCHD Staff:
Marie Mora-Menges, Nursing Program Director
Su Korbitz, Environmental Services Program Director
Dr. Janell Maier, Disease Prevention & Control/EPR Program Director
John Miller, Business Manager
Minutes
- Call to Order: A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by Dr. Yoder.
- 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 in all OCHD offices and on the BOH website by 5/23/2024.
- Public Comment: None
- Consent Agenda (ACTION ITEM)
- Approval of Minutes
- March 26th, 2024 Regular BOH Meeting (Previously sent on 3/27/2024 & 5/22/2024)
- Contract Ratification (Pursuant to C.R.S. 25-1-508 (5)(k) & C.R.S. 25-1-511 (3))
- 2024-2025 CDPHE CTC Contract Amendment #3
- Amendment Contract Number: 2022*0157 Amendment #3
- Purpose: CDPHE support for OCHD’s Communities That Care (CTC) Program.
- Status: Partially Executed
- Term: 7/1/2024-6/30/2025
- Amount: $278,526.00
- CDPHE 2024-2025 CDPHE OPHP Contract Amendment #1
- Amendment Contract Number: 2023*0040 Amendment #1
- Purpose: CDPHE support for OCHD’s core public health services and MCH
activities. - Status: Partially Executed
- Term: 7/1/2024-6/30/2025
- Amount: $237,676.00
- CDPHE 2024-2025 CDPHE STEPP Option Letter #1
- Option Letter Contract Number: 2024*0238 Option Letter #1
- Purpose: CDPHE support for OCHD’s Regional Tobacco Control Program.
- Status: Fully Executed
- Term: 7/1/2024-6/30/2025
- Amount: $450,000.00
- 2024-2025 CDPHE CTC Contract Amendment #3
- Approval of Consent Agenda and Approval/Ratification of Items Therein: L. Hart moved to approve the consent agenda and ratify the items therein, R. Nelson seconded, motion carried.
- Approval of Minutes
- Old Business: None
- New Business
- Budget (Pursuant to C.R.S. 25-1-508 (5)(k) & C.R.S. 25-1-511 (3))
- Financial Summary Report (Based upon Tyler Financial Systems reports dated 5/21/2024)
- March 2024
- Revenues: $51,783.40
- Expenditures: $136,142.25
- Deficit: $84,358.85
- Fund Balance: $2,754,084.14
- April 2024
- Revenues: $82,250.56
- Expenditures: $144,081.17
- Deficit: $61,830.61
- Fund Balance: $2,692,253.53
- March 2024
- Approval of Expenditures (ACTION ITEM): R. Nelson moved to approve the March 2024 & April 2024 expenditures in the amounts of $136,142.25, & $144,081.17 respectively, M. McCuistion seconded, motion carried.
- Financial Summary Report (Based upon Tyler Financial Systems reports dated 5/21/2024)
- Certified Food Protection Manager's Course: There are 10 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved companies in Colorado that offer food safety basics and certified food protection manager training. Mrs. Korbitz can proctor for 3 of these companies, namely ServSafe, State Food Safety, and both Dr. Maier and Su can proctor for Always Food Safe. OCHD has to offer all of the options to our retail food establishments. However, ServSafe and State Food Safety are the most commonly used in our area. For a number of years CSU-Extension has had a ServSafe approved instructor for in-person training. After reviewing the Always Food Safe promotional video and talking with them, OCHD decided to partner with them to offer another inperson training option. The first class was on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Inspiration Field. Nine people attended from 4 different facilities, two of which said the Always Food Safe training was the best training they had taken and plan on making changes immediately in their facilities. So far, six of the nine participants have taken the final exam and passed! We are working on offering the training in Spanish as well.
Otero County Worksite Wellness: According to Health links Colorado (healthlinkscertified.org), worksite wellness, or Total Worker Health, is “a holistic approach to worker well-being that enhances safety, health, and productivity”. Otero County has very recently embarked on a interconnected, multi-pronged approach to worksite wellness for its employees. On Mondays, employees are emailed a “challenge for the week”, and staff are free to choose to participate or not. The challenges will center around themes such as physical fitness, financial health, random acts of kindness, mental well-being, and others. Most weeks, there will be multiple activity options from which to choose. Those that participate are eligible to enter their names into a quarterly prize drawing. The quarterly prizes for this year are as follows:
- May/June: Half-day off
- July/August/September: Full day off
- October/November/December: $300
Thus far, the challenges have been:
- Random acts of kindness bingo;
- Physical fitness; &
- Financial football.
This initiative has been very well received. Some comments from Otero County employees are as follows:
- "This challenge made me realize how many small acts of kindness can be done in a day without much effort. A small devotion of your time can really change the trajectory of someone else's day."
- "This year, one of my goals was to be more aware of people around me. This bingo card was a good way to incorporate that!"
- "Always be kind to others because you never truly know what they are going through."
- "Keep up the kindness!"
- “It's awesome to see everyone embracing the spirit of kindness and making it a part of our daily routine. Your actions are not only brightening someone else's day but also adding to the positive atmosphere of our workplace.”
- “Man, I love working here and with YOU!”
OCHD staff Dr. Janell Maier and Su Korbitz are on the worksite wellness committee, and according to Amy White-Tanabe, “Su and Janell have been a tremendous part of this project.” Mrs. White-Tanabe is spearheading/leading this project, and her efforts are noticed and very appreciated!
- Morgan Community College (MCC) Practicum Site: OCHD has recently entered into an agreement with MCC to serve as a practicum site for BSN students. The practicum curriculum is very focused on public health, and will engage MCC students in numerous OCHD Programs. M. Menges and Dr. Maier will be working with R. Ritter to fulfill practicum requirements.
- Needle Kiosk Update: Due to a flurry of competing priorities, other activities, and obligations, OCHD has not made much progress on the needle kiosk project since the last BOH report. After numerous deliverables are completed by the end of June, OCHD will be better able to focus more attention on this important subject.
WIC Request For Applications (RFA): For decades, CDPHE WIC has not required local WIC programs to apply for annual funding. Established local WIC Programs simply received continuation funding for their local WIC activities. For the next WIC fiscal year (which begins October 1st, 2024), CDPHE WIC is requiring all local providers to submit an application with accompanying budget. The timeline is as follows:
- May 10 - June 14, 2024: Request for Applications (RFA) process open.
- June 17 - July 12, 2024: Application review.
- August 1, 2024: Contracts available in DocuSign.
- October 1, 2024: FFY25 contracts begin.
The funding formula has likewise been revised, and under the new funding formula OCHD will see a decrease in annual funding. For this fiscal OCHD, OCHD is contracted for $195,843. Under the revised funding formula, OCHD is scheduled to receive $177,662 for WIC FY25, a decrease of $18,181. The new funding formula factors are as follows:
- Per Participant (85%)
- Cost Adjustment Factors (10%)
- Population Density (2.5%)
- Percent of Non-English Speaking Clients (3.5%)
- Percent of High-Risk Clients (4%)
Partnership Support (5%)
NOTE: “Partnership Support” is for agencies, usually smaller/rural/frontier that do not have access to a RD and/or RN for high risk counseling. This does not apply to OCHD, as we currently have a RD, and after her retirement at the end of June, R. Ritter plans to assign a portion of M. Mora-Menges (RN, OCHD DON) to WIC as Program Director and to perform high risk counseling.
R. Ritter has already begun the application and budgeting process, and will keep the BOH apprised as to progress of the application.
- School Chemical Project: On May 15th, 2024 CDPHE staff Greg McConnell and Randy Perlis offered a training to school administrators, teachers, custodians, safety personnel, and fire departments in our area on chemical safety and Colorado regulations for schools. The information was pertinent and everyone was extremely appreciative of all they shared. It is OCHD’s plan to offer this training on a regular basis so that our schools will be better positioned to stay in compliance with regulations and facilitate information flow/sharing between schools, safety personnel, and local fire departments.
S. Korbitz and Dr. Maier planned for and coordinated this important event, a BIG thanks to both of them! - Community Health Assessment (CHA)/Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP) Update: Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 25-1-505 requires that all Local Public Health Agencies (LPHA) in Colorado prepare a local public health plan, have it reviewed and approved by the local BOH, and then submit it to CDPHE and the State BOH. Our BOH approved OCHD’s previous public health plan at its 1/28/2020 BOH meeting. This new plan will be for the years 2025-2029, and will be a multi-county plan to include Baca, Bent, Crowley, and Otero. It is anticipated that the new plan will be ready for review by the BOH during the last quarter of 2024, and placed on the BOH agenda for approval at the BOH’s January 2025 meeting, after which R. Ritter will submit the new plan to CDPHE/State BOH. M. Mora-Menges and Dr. Maier have taken the lead on this significant project, and they are doing a tremendous job, thanks!
- Safety Jam/A Path Forward Event: On Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at La Junta City Park, the Safety Jam/A Path Forward event will occur. This event is being planned and implemented by OCHD, The Schreiber Research Group (TSRG), and American Medical Response (AMR). The purpose is to raise awareness about safety, raise awareness and reduce stigma regarding SUD/OUD, and raise funds to support scholarship(s) for those in SUD/OUD recovery. The day is packed with events that include a motorcycle poker run, fun walk/run, exhibitor booths, free lunch and dinner (until the food runs out), a helicopter landing in the park, live music, etc. If all goes well, this may become an annual event.
- Budget (Pursuant to C.R.S. 25-1-508 (5)(k) & C.R.S. 25-1-511 (3))
- Addendum/Addenda: None
- Program Reports
- DCEP/EPR, Dr. Janell Maier: General information
- Environmental Services, Su Korbitz: General information
- Nursing, Marie Mora-Menges: General information
- Vital Statistics, John Miller: General information
- Executive Session: Not requested nor required.
- 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