Watertown Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
515 South First Street
February 19, 2015 - 5:30pm
Members Present: Dr. Donene Rowe, Steve Zgonc, Tim Raether and Carol Quest.
Others in Attendance: Kim Hiller
Not Present: Ann Nienow, Andrea Turke
1. Call to Order
Steve Zgonc called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Citizens to be Heard
No citizens present.
3. Approval of Minutes and Financial Report
Motion was made by Dr. Rowe and seconded by Steve Zgonc to approve the minutes from November 13,
2014 as submitted.
Unanimously approved.
Carol reviewed the financial report from Year end 2014.
Carol also reviewed the month end January 2015 financial sheets.
Motion was made by Tim Raether and seconded by Dr. Rowe to approve the financial reports as submitted.
Unanimously passed.
4. HIPAA – Three Pillars
Three Pillars will continue working with the department to update the Health Department HIPAA privacy
policies. The department is currently reviewing and updating the existing HIPAA security policies.
This has been reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee.
Three Pillars was chosen because they are familiar with the departments existing policies and procedures
through the HIPAA security work they completed in 2014.
5. Dashboard - QI
Carol gave the board members a preview of the department’s program quality measure dashboard. She
explained that this will be used as a tool to keep track of various measurements. This is another step that will
help in the accreditation process.
6. Legislative updates
Carol reviewed legislative items in the State budget proposal that will impact public health.
Funding has been repealed for the Complete Streets law and $2 million cut to the Transportation Alternatives
Program.
The budget also proposes to combine the Department of Health and Department Agriculture; food, safety and
recreational inspection programs. We are currently an agent for both departments.
Watertown Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2015 - 5:30pm
Page 2
Legislative updates - continued
The state public health associations have drafted a funding request to support communicable disease follow
up. Communicable disease follow-up is a statutory requirement of local health departments. Current there is
no state funding for this work. Carol used the E. coli incident as an example that investigation and follow up
can go on for months for a department.
7. Emergency Preparedness
Gabrielle Peterson started work on December 1, 2014 as Watertown/Dodge County Emergency Preparedness
Coordinator and Environmental Health Technician
Watertown Health Department is working with Dodge County Health Department on development of a
community wide fatality management plan and a mass care plan. Community partners that are assisting with
the plan include; fire/emergency responds, law enforcement, emergency management, hospitals, local
businesses and medical examiner
A healthcare coalition to develop a comprehensive community plan for public health emergencies has been
meeting in Watertown and Dodge County. Public health emergencies most commonly are infectious diseases.
Local emergency responders are being provided with respiratory fit testing and training on personal protective
equipment.
8. Environmental Health
The annual review by Department of Natural Resources for Transient Non-community Well program took place
in January. The review went very well and Holly Hisel was recognized for her diligence to complete the goal
for the year especially with staffing gaps that were experienced.
Jeff Larkin is now certified in lead assessment. There are currently 4 houses under environmental
assessment. Each assessment takes five to six hours to complete not including the reports and orders that
need to be written.
Food businesses have been identified on Facebook that have not been inspected or licensed. Contact will be
made with these businesses to educate them on the requirements of the Wisconsin food code and need to
have an inspection and license. The public’s health is our primary concern with food safety.
9. Health Officer
Work is continuing on the Community Health Improvement Plan with Dodge and Jefferson County health
departments. The plan should be completed in spring. Get Healthy Watertown is a group that is working on
items to improve the health of the community. Some of the work they are involved with are Saturday
morning Walks, community gardens and sidewalks.
The PNCC program is now using the state electronic charting system for their visits. A laptop and hotspot
were purchased to accomplish this change in procedure.
Seal A Smile will be starting second visits to the schools. Fluoride varnishes will be provided to students
starting in March and April. A new electronic system was implemented and is now being used to document
visits.
The Watertown Dementia Awareness Coalition is working to provide education to business and groups in the
community to improve access to services and programs for caregivers and individuals living with dementia.
Watertown Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2015 - 5:30pm
Page 3
Carol provided a communicable disease update including the measles outbreak. There are currently 141
people with the measles in 17 states. There were two suspect cases in WI but they were tested and came
back negative for measles.
10. Old Business
None.
11. New Business
None.
12. Adjournment
The next Board of Health meeting will be set for May 14th, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol Quest
Director/Health Officer
Note:
The minutes are uncorrected. Any correction made thereto will be noted in the minutes of the proceedings at which these
minutes are approved.