These notes were taken by an Okanogan County Watch volunteer. Every attempt is made to be accurate. Notes are verbatim when possible, and otherwise summarized or paraphrased.
Note takers comments or clarifications are in italics. These notes are not the official county record of the meeting. For officially approved minutes, which are normally published at a later time, CLICK HERE.
The time stamps refer to the times on the AV Capture archive of the meeting on this date at the County livestream archive. To locate items in real time, the clock on the wall in the AV Capture screen can be helpful.
7.23.2024 BOH
Meeting Highlights:
Satisfied with previous work force development session, board to use foundational funds to pay for Pilot Rock Consultating to do staff training, individual staff coaching and succession planning
Village Reach doing community health assessment for seniors with mixed results, relieving board epidemiologist who left health district to work for state.
Motion of understanding passed for one-time $20,000 allocation to the Community Coalition for youth prevention; they will also analyze a youth survey
Covid cases, hospitalizations “bumping up” like every summer but cases “not severe”
Hospital visits for heart and lung ailments up as Pioneer, Easy, Miners, Swawila and Bridge Creek fires burn on; Health Officer Wallace lists clean air strategies for back- to-school season; air filters distributed to neediest residents
Okanogan biggest user of hospital transfer program, health system crippled by staffing shortages, EMS limitations; broader discussion needed
Additional environmental health position approved
• Blue Sky Mindsʼ food assesment and food council gaining momentum, sparking enthusiasm from other counties