Public health staff briefed Mason County commissioners on Board of Health recruitment, upcoming state legislative visits, and preparations for wildfire smoke incidents, including acquisition and distribution of HEPA air filtration systems.

Public health staff said four vacancies exist on the Board of Health: one seat reserved for the Squaxin Island Tribal representative, two seats for "consumers of public health" (county residents who self-identify as having experienced health inequities or lived experience with public-health programs), and one seat to replace a member tied to the school system. "So consumer of public health ... County residents who have self identified as having faced significant health inequities or having lived experience with public health," staff explained, saying those categories are taken from the applicable RCW that governs board composition.

Commissioners were asked to consider attending a July delegation visit by state House and Senate staff to review financing for public health facilities; staff said the visit will include a building tour (Building 13) and high-level financing briefings. "From 01:30 to 04:30 next Monday, I've got the state, house and senate team coming ... the House Defense Finance Committee ... we'll talk about basically financing at the high level and then take them up to building, 13," public health staff said.

On wildfire smoke response, public health reported purchasing 24 HEPA air filtration units and a supply of 20x20 replacement filters. Staff said units will be prepositioned at fire stations, the chamber and libraries to support the community during smoke events, with some units targeted to income-qualified distribution programs. "We have purchased, HEPA air filtration systems. Good. I got 24 of those and I've got 2 pal a pallet of the 20 by 20 filters. We came out with a smoke plan, and we're gonna coordinate putting some of those pre positioned in hood support or other places where we..." staff said. The units were purchased so they would not need to be returned and low-income residents could receive units free.

No formal action was taken by the commission during the briefing. Staff asked commissioners to attend the state delegation visit if possible and to support board recruitment outreach.

Ending: Public health staff will circulate board recruitment materials and the schedule for the state finance visit; HEPA units will be deployed under the smoke plan and staff will coordinate distribution logistics with local partners.