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Vernon County prepares to bring environmental‑health work in‑house, updates WIC rules and COVID testing plans
Summary
The board heard that the Southern Region environmental‑health consortium will end January 2024 and Vernon County staff will assume environmental‑health complaints; members approved related policies, voted to seek vehicle purchase quotes, and heard WIC and COVID testing updates.
At its June 13 meeting the Vernon County Board of Health heard several operational updates from Health Officer Amy Kleiber, including a planned transfer of environmental‑health duties to county staff, policy approvals, water‑quality findings and changes to the WIC program.
Kleiber told the board that the Southern Region Environmental Health Consortium will cease operations in January 2024 and that, when that occurs, Vernon County staff will take over environmental‑health complaints and related duties. Kleiber and staff member Sandy Favor presented a cost analysis for the Agent program. The board voted to accept a water lab policy as written (motion by David Eggen, second by Duane Koons), and approved revised language for the Agent License Renewal Procedure (motion by Paul Wilson, second by Martha Olson) to change the renewal notice dates. The board also accepted a Cease and Desist notice for Agent‑issued licenses pending any edits from corporate counsel (motion by Duane Koons, second by David Eggen).
Kleiber reported that 7.6% of nitrate test results exceeded the recommended safety threshold of 10 mg/dl; 76 samples had been tested to date. She said the Agent program has funds available to support a vehicle purchase; Kelly Mitchell moved to obtain purchase quotes and Seidel seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
On preparedness and clinical services, Kleiber said PHEP year‑end grant reporting is due June 30, 2023, staff are completing ICS training, and wastewater monitoring shows low COVID‑19 levels. Kleiber said the rapid antigen testing campaign will end June 15 and the health department has about 100 rapid test kits remaining.
Kleiber summarized upcoming WIC changes after a USDA ruling starting August 2023: WIC will use a hybrid format for up to three years, allowing remote appointments only if families supply recent height/weight and bloodwork records; families must meet in person for anthropometrics where required. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program is active; WIC will issue $30 checks for local markets.
Board members directed staff to proceed with the administrative steps noted above and to return with implementation details and counsel review where appropriate.
