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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of the
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BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Peltz, D.D.S.,
President; Katy Eaton, F.N.P., Vice President; Glenda Pecka, R.N., M.S.,
Secretary; Sonja Conway, Ph.D.; Mike Groark, J.D.; Carl Heinisch; Steve Kuhn,
P.A.; Photine Liakos, M.D.; Joe Seneczko, D.V.M.; Darrell Wiley, M.D.
Mr.
Groark moved to approve all motions from the September 2001 Board of Health
meeting when a quorum was not present, seconded by Mr. Kuhn.
Motion carried.
On
a motion by Mrs. Pecka, seconded by Mr. Heinisch, the minutes of the Board of
Health meeting of September 25, 2001, were approved. Motion carried.
Mrs.
Grush reported that a number of changes have occurred in public health as a
result of the recent bioterrorism activities.
The weaknesses of the public health system from the national to the local
level became apparent the past couple months and demonstrated the lack of
funding for preparation for bioterrorism. She
is confident that, as a result of the experience since 911, funding for the
training of public health staff will become available.
There was an incidence of possible anthrax reported in DeKalb, and it
became apparent that, like everywhere else, there was no plan in place for
dealing with bioterrorism on the local level.
The individual involved did end up at the emergency room because they
were feeling ill, but it was not related to bioterrorism.
Programming was quickly established and a plan of action developed for
the major players: public health, police, fire and health care providers. Mrs. Grush pointed out that the Federal teams have done an
excellent job in responding to situations.
Illinois has tested over 1,000 samples, but have not yet isolated any
anthrax bacteria.
As
a result of September 11, the agency received a number of calls regarding
vaccinations and suspicious packages. Most
callers obtained information, but there were a couple callers that were
hysterical and challenging to deal with. Mrs.
Grush does expect more direction from the state and believes a plan will be put
in place, at least for the dispensing of medication in the near future.
Some
of the individuals from the July 2001 T.B. outbreak have completed their
medication regimen, while some are still receiving medications daily.
The agency received an award at a state meeting for its efforts in
addressing an INH-resistant T.B. in persons born outside the United States.
Mrs. Grush stated she is very proud of agency staff for the efforts put
forth.
Our
agency was selected for a site visit by Bill Jacobs, Chief of Control and Field
Operations of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The agency was able to showcase programs receiving DHS
funding.
Dr.
Peltz asked if any more consideration was given to contacting the media about
the T.B. situation, especially in light of the award received from the State.
Mrs. Grush stated that it is a difficult situation because she would like
to tout the award and the efforts of the agency, but the agency feels that
contacting the media could present a negative impact on the population involved.
Dr.
Peltz asked if the media contacted the agency regarding the bioterrorism issues.
Mrs. Grush responded in the affirmative, stating that there were a couple
articles after the program at NIU regarding the county’s preparedness and
ability to work together.
Mr.
Kuhn asked if there was much pressure from the State regarding the requirement
for chickenpox vaccination. Mrs.
Grush stated that the State Health Department supports it but is not sure where
schools stand on the issue. She
indicated that the vaccine would be received through the State at no charge to
the agency and feels the requirement will pass at some point.
Mr.
Drake reported that the temporary inspections are done for the year.
The division is now preparing for a program review to be held in January.
Mr. Heinisch advised that he had heard that the mountain lion is back in
Shabbona, and also that he has heard a number of coyotes near his home.
Mr. Drake responded that the farmers are not doing as good a job at
controlling coyotes as they have in the past, adding that they do serve a
purpose. Mr. Kuhn questioned how
often there are livestock kills. Mr. Drake responded that they average two to three livestock
kills a year, with one out of five being from coyotes.
He added that coyotes run in packs and prefer wildlife and hunting deer.
Mr. Heinisch stated that they had a speaker at Kiwanis who talked about
the pheasant population and that the largest predator is cats running loose in
the community. Mr. Drake stated
that feral cats that grow up in the wild, have large heads and grow to be large
and viscious are an especially big problem.
Mrs.
Lux, Director of Personal Health Services, expressed her appreciation for the
staff in her division. She was especially grateful to have the expertise of Peg
Carroll in Communicable Disease and Mrs. Grush’s leadership during the recent
bioterrorism situation. Mrs. Grush
stated that, in the Communicable Disease Division, we have a shortage of tetanus
vaccine. She added that she heard a
discussion on television regarding the tetanus shortage and the fact that drug
companies are putting all their efforts into new vaccines, such as for smallpox,
rather than manufacturing existing vaccines.
Mrs. Carroll stated that the agency is limited to what they can receive
through the Vaccines For Children Program, but stated that meningitis is back on
the market.
Mrs.
Baj, Director of Home Care, stated that the program has been very erratic as of
late, with 731 visits in September and 993 in October.
She was recently able to hire two and one-half nurses.
Dr. Peltz asked what happens if the program experiences a slow month
after hiring these new nurses. Mrs.
Baj responded that staff would take vacation or compensatory time should that
occur, but she does not envision that happening.
Mrs.
Pecka asked why a nurse would leave the Home Care Program to work nights at the
hospital. Mrs. Baj responded that
the nurse would make more money but would not have any benefits, which this
particular nurse was not interested in at this time. In addition, to sign up on the night shift, she only had to
commit to eight shifts per month at $29 per hour with no weekend or holiday
commitment. This particular nurse
was also interested in returning to hospital nursing. Mrs. Grush pointed out that the Health Department’s salary
with benefits is close to that of the hospital.
Mrs.
Zanellato, Director of Health Education, stated that the tobacco prevention
programs are going very well. Students
from two high schools are completing counter-marketing training and will
implement their plans in January. The
bilingual nurse that was hired to do life skills at Huntley Junior High
resigned, but Mrs. Zanellato was able to hire a temporary part-time individual.
She distributed some pamphlets and brochures on breast cancer awareness. With implementation of the new Illinois Breast and Cervical
Cancer Program, brochures were distributed to all 500 county employees.
All health-related school staff received the brochure, “Health Services
for Your Students.” Staff
continues to work on implementation of the Second Step (anti-violence,
pro-social) program in the DeKalb School District. A binder with nutrition-tailored curriculum has been
developed for grades Kindergarten through 4 for use in DeKalb School District.
This is still in the pilot stages, with teachers being able to utilize it
within one-half hour in the classroom.
Dr.
Peltz asked if this binder was available to teachers throughout the county.
Mrs. Zanellato responded that it is being tested in the DeKalb School
District since they developed the material, however the information is so
general, it could be used in any classroom in the Kindergarten through 4 grade
levels. Mrs. Grush added that different schools throughout the county
are used for piloting of different projects.
November
is the last month of the FY2001 Budget, with 90 percent of projected revenue
received and 90 percent of projected expenditures made.
Mrs. Grush stated she has no concerns with this budget, and the agency
should exceed budgeted revenue. This
year, with changes in Home Care Perspective Payment System (PPS) reimbursement,
more money has been received up front rather than as accounts receivable.
On
a motion by Mrs. Pecka, seconded by Mr. Groark, the Financial Statements for the
months of September and October 2001 and the Claims for the months of October
and November 2001 were approved as presented. Motion carried.
For
many years, the Animal Control Program, with the approval of the State’s
Attorney’s office, has issued violation citations to dog owners that
repeatedly allow their animals to run loose.
The new Assistant States’ Attorney, Jack Slingerland, has indicated
that the county’s ordinance does not legally grant the authority to issue
citations. He recommends that the
Board of Health recommend to the County Board an amendment to Section 10-23 of
the County Ordinance Animals that states that a person commits a violation when
he owns, possesses, or harbors a dog which is at large.
Mr.
Drake stated that tickets, which range from $50 to $500, are not often issued to
offenders unless the situation persists. He
indicated that, pending approval of this Ordinance change, it will be taken to
the Planning and Regulations Committee meeting tomorrow evening.
Mr.
Kuhn moved to approve the proposed amendment to Section 10-23 of the County
Animal Ordinance, seconded by Mrs. Eaton. Motion
carried.
In
March 2001, a Department of Human Services Fiscal/Administrative Review was held
of the agency. Their findings
revealed that the DeKalb County Health Department did not have a written policy
dealing with Conflict of Interest of the Board of Directors, and they
recommended that a written Conflict of Interest policy be developed.
This policy has been developed and was presented to the Board of Health
for their review.
The
second recommendation was that fiscal policies and procedures should be in
writing, and Mrs. Grush indicated that these policies have been written and will
be submitted to the Department by November 30, 2001.
The
third finding was that employees who handle currency and checks were not bonded,
checks were not restrictively endorsed upon receipt by the individual who opens
the mail, and a list or log of daily cash receipts was not maintained.
Mrs. Grush stated that DeKalb County is self-insured and the County has
chosen not to bond employees and assume this risk under the Self-Insurance
Program. Checks will be endorsed by
the person who opens the mail. The
agency feels that making a log of daily cash receipts is a duplication of work
as individuals write receipts daily for cash and checks received.
The
fourth finding was in regards to steps being taken to minimize third party
liability and documentation of enforcement of that policy.
Mrs. Grush presented a revision to the Board of the Personnel Policies,
Section X11, requiring verification of a valid drivers license and vehicle
insurance upon initial employment and at the beginning of each calendar year.
Mr.
Heinisch moved to approve the Conflict of Interest Policy Statement to the Board
of Health Bylaws and revisions to the Personnel Policies of the DeKalb County
Health Department, as presented. Mrs.
Pecka seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Mrs.
Grush reported that she did build in $10,000 for salary adjustments in the
FY2002 Budget. She is recommending
three adjustments at this time. The
first adjustment is for a secretary who has been assigned Accounting Clerk A
responsibilities half-time because of increased demands in the fiscal area.
Mrs. Grush is requesting a salary adjustment from $10.58 to $11.13 per
hour for this employee, effective November 18, 2001.
The
second adjustment is for an Accounting Clerk A who is being cross-trained to
back-up the Director of Office Support. Mrs.
Grush is requesting a salary adjustment from $13.22 to $13.56 for this position,
effective November 18, 2001.
The
third adjustment is for a Public Health Nurse, increasing her salary from $16.37
to $16.70 per hour, effective November 18, 2001.
Mrs. Grush pointed out that, with the nursing shortage, the agency is
continuously faced with the problem of having to pay new recruits more than
current staff is making.
Mrs.
Grush is recommending the reclassification of an Accounting Clerk A to a Fiscal
Coordinator. This individual has
exhibited great initiative by taking computer classes on her own to enhance her
skills and has implemented new data instruments used by the agency that have
saved considerable time and personnel cost for the agency.
She is also responsible for the department’s fiscal accountability,
general ledger, monthly claims, financial statements, fiscal year-end balancing,
cost reports, and audit reports. All
fiscal/accounting work feeds into this particular position.
The salary range requested is $14.10 to $20.09 per hour, with a salary
increase of $13.57 to $15.06 per hour for this particular individual.
Mrs.
Grush is recommending the addition of an Administrative Clerk A position, with a
salary range of $10.87 to $15.47 per hour.
This position is necessary because of the recent Agreement with the
Illinois Department of Public Aid to recover local costs contributed to the
agency’s Maternal Child Health Programs.
With $100,000 projected to be received through this effort, the addition
of an individual who can be both a front-line support staff worker and a
supervisor of the day-to-day activities of the support staff in the division is
of greatest need.
Mrs.
Grush recommended a year-end bonus of $2,000 for Peg Carroll, Communicable
Disease Coordinator, and $1,000 to Jane Lux, Director of Personal Health
Services, for their time spent “above and beyond” with the T.B. outbreak the
past few months.
A
revised chart of Health Department positions was presented.
On
a motion by Mr. Heinisch, seconded by Dr. Wiley, all recommendations, as
presented, were approved. Motion
carried.
Mrs.
Grush thanked all Board members that called her with recommendations for
membership.
Dr.
Szeneczko, Chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the following
recommendations to the DeKalb County Board of Health, effective November 30,
2001: Steve Wolf, R.N., to replace Katy Eaton, F.N.P.; Russell Bishop, Psy.D.,
to replace Brazilian Thurman, M.S.W.; Debbie Schelkopf, D.V.M., to replace Dr.
Szeneczko; and James Cole, M.D., to replace Dr. Liakos.
Mrs. Conway was recommended for a second one-year term as County Board
representative.
On
a motion by Mrs. Pecka, seconded by Mrs. Eaton, the Board of Health membership
recommendations were approved, as presented.
Motion carried.
Dr.
Sceneczko recommended the following slate of officers: Fred Peltz,, D.D.S., as
President; Glenda Pecka, R.N., M.S., as Vice President; and, Steve Kuhn, P.A.,
as Secretary.
On
a motion by Mr. Heinisch, seconded by Mr. Groark, the Nomination of Officers to
the Board of Health were approved, as presented. Motion carried.
Mrs.
Grush presented plaques recognizing the services of retiring board members Mrs.
Eaton, Dr. Liakos and Dr. Seneczko.
Newspaper
articles over the last two months focused on bioterrorism, neglect of the public
health system, health tips for the fall season, flu season recommendations and
the setting of community clinics, the availability of free mammograms and pap
tests for income-eligible women, October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and
legal action against a peacock running at large earlier this year.
On
a motion by Mr. Heinisch, seconded by Mr. Groark, the Board of Health meeting
adjourned at 8:33 p.m. Motion
carried.
Glenda Pecka, R.N., M.S., Secretary
DeKalb County Board of Health
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