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Clallam County staff outline Department of Health contract amendments and concerns over COVID-era grant terminations
Summary
County health staff presented two amendments to Department of Health contracts that provide one-time workforce development, beach monitoring and WIC funding. Staff warned some COVID-era grants have been terminated and said they will monitor invoicing closely to avoid county liabilities.
Kevin (first name only), Health Department administrator, told the Board of Commissioners on March 31 that two Department of Health contract amendments would add targeted funding to county public-health programs but that parts of the COVID-era funding package have been terminated.
"The 3 areas that are being funded is a onetime funding for public health workforce development... in the amount of $81,628," Kevin said, adding the amendments also include beach environmental monitoring funding and "our WIC nutrition program in the amount of $84,004.38."
The nut graf: Kevin warned the board that a separate COVID-era line item, ELC (the epidemiology/lab capacity branch referenced by DOH), has been terminated and that the county must avoid spending in ways that could leave the county covering costs if the state stops reimbursements. "If we move forward with it and our invoices are in at a time when the cutoff date occurs during the termination, we're left paying the bill," Kevin said.
County staff described steps they are taking. Kevin said the county has revised required grant paperwork (FIG forms) and is delaying or closely monitoring spending tied to potential termination. "We're trying to do it very cautiously," he said, noting that WIC and environmental-health funds appear secure but that the public-health infrastructure grant remains uncertain.
Commissioners asked how workforce funds would be used; Kevin said monies would sustain sanitation contracts and extra help used for epidemiology and similar positions. On contract processing, staff noted most of the federal/state grants are reimbursement-based and emphasized prompt invoicing when eligible.
No formal vote on the amendments was recorded in the transcript; staff presented the contract items and described next steps for monitoring and invoicing.
The county will continue tracking DOH guidance and report back to commissioners if the state provides confirmation on the status of the workforce and infrastructure grants.
