HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth June 15 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Health Committee
June 15, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Kathy Kershner called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. in the
Whatcom County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (1:05:08 PM)
Present: L. Ward Nelson, Barbara Brenner and Kathy Kershner.
Absent: None.
Also Present: None.
1. CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICES
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, gave a staff report.
Brenner stated she would like to see information on how they provide mandated
services and what the minimum mandates are. She would like to know how other counties
may provide the mandated service while meeting State law. Delahunt stated there is a
range of services provided for the mandated services. Certain mandates aren't very
specific. She doesn't recommend watering down programs to the point they aren't
effective. She can provide the legal wording of the mandates.
There was discussion on scheduling an overview of the Glendon septic systems; the
Public Health Advisory Board recommendations; making a difference by working at the
systems level, and; how much effort they should put into medical information for the public
versus for health care providers.
The following people answered questions:
• John Wolpers, Health Department
• Greg Stern, Health Department
Delahunt stated she would like the committee to generally approve of the Public
Health Advisory Board Service Prioritization.
The committee concurred.
2. DISCUSSION WITH USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES REGARDING WILDLIFE
ISSUES
Henry Bierlink, Farm Friends, introduced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
representative.
Matt Cleland, USDA Western Washington Wildlife Services, stated he thanks the
Council for supporting the agricultural program. He described the history of the USDA
Wildlife Services. They address wildlife disease issues as they apply to livestock and human
health and safety, airport safety in terms of birds, and urban control of wildlife and
Health Committee, 6/15/2010, Page 1
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migratory birds. They aren't able to handle bald eagles, except they can relocate bald
eagles to keep them from hunting calves, chickens, and other small livestock. It's a pricey
program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services will handle anything related to bald eagles.
Urban geese are a health - related issue this time of year. They have a program in
the Puget Sound to round up geese and euthanize them for health and safety reasons. He
gets many calls from citizens who live in the Lake Whatcom watershed. They can't go out
on that lake at the request of one individual. They have to have a request from the entire
general population of the area. If they are going to do something about the geese, it must
be done by the Fourth of July, or they'll be flying again. The average goose produces three
pounds of fecal matter per day.
There was discussion about controlling moles; deer populations; the federal
government's relationship with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife; the process for
trapping animals such as raccoons and moles; growth of starling population and control in
the urban areas; educating the citizens on starling pest control; starling migration from
urban areas to agricultural areas; educating homeowners about roosting starlings; creating
a coordinated effort with the City of Bellingham to address the geese population at Lake
Whatcom; taking the information about the process of geese control to the Lake Whatcom
Management Committee; the fee for contracting for geese control at Lake Whatcom, and;
developing a geese control program at Lake Whatcom.
John Quanz, USDA, stated he has approval to take councilmembers along on a
Whatcom County tour.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.whatcom.wa.us
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
L. Ward Nelson, Committee Chair
Health Committee, 6/15/2010, Page 2