Carbondale Reporter

Jackson County Legislative and Public Safety Committee Met Jan. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order (5:00 PM) 

Members Present: Basden II, Calandro, Morris, Scott and Snyder 

Members Absent: Erbes and Rendleman 

Also present: Josh Barringer, Keri Gale, Sharee Langenstein, Kenton Schafer, Jeff Whitbeck, Jan Phillips, Orval Rowe, Scott Comparato, Bart Hagston, Jennifer Lindsey

Approval of Minutes

Approval of December 8, 2020 Minutes 

A motion was made by Snyder, seconded by Basden II, to approve th December 8, 2020 minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following vote: 

Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Morris, Scott and Snyder 

Absent: 2 - Erbes and Rendleman 

Communication 

II. 21-5623 Meeting Date and Time 

Calandro asked the committee if there were any suggestions about changing the meeting dates and times. All members were in favor of keeping the current dates and times and making no changes. 

III. 21-5624 IEPA Communication

The County Administrator noted that this was informational only for the committee to provide to citizens if they had questions concerning the IEPA Clean Air Act Permit Program application from SIUC. Animal Control 

IV. 21-5625 Animal Control Monthly Update 

The County Administrator noted that the Animal Control Officer has been working on the following projects: 

1. Animals in Disaster Committee 

2. Distributing 2021 Rabies Tags to local vets/Collecting 2020 Rabies Tag Fees 

3. Working with local vets on 2021 rabies control reporting 

4. Attended Wilderness First Responder Training. Curriculum included Principles of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology and risk management, patient assessment and emergency care, environmental medicine, musculoskeletal problems, wound management, and international wilderness protocols. This training will allow for a better assessment of animal care needs when responding to calls.

Health Department & Solid Waste 

V. 21-5626 Jackson County Health Department 

Mr. Hagston reported the following to the committee: 

In mid-December the department moved to one of the shortened quarantine options made available by CDC to public health agencies. Individuals who have been exposed to someone positive for COVD-19 are now required to quarantine for 10 days, down from the prior 14 day requirement. Individuals released from quarantine after 10 days are still to be required to monitor themselves for symptoms through day 14 and isolate themselves if they become symptomatic, as well as wear a mask around others & practice social distancing. Thus far the department feels the change has decreased resistance to quarantine and hopes that it has increased compliance, but there is only anecdotal data to support that. Many other counties around Jackson County also moved to the 10 day quarantine requirement. 

Vaccination update: 1990 doses received, 975 doses administered. Only Moderna received to date, and the department does not control what brand it receives. Four clinics held thus far, have been scheduled twice a week through February. The County is currently in Phase 1a, and has not been allowed to vaccine outside that group. Local health departments are responsible for implementing the State vaccination plan at the local level. Despite massive efforts to get healthcare workers into the County clinics, there have been 450 unfilled appointment times. Next week the County will move to Phase 1b and it is estimated that there are 12,000 persons eligible in this phase. Those eligible are persons 65 years and older, and “frontline” essential workers, which includes, first responders, corrections, teachers, grocery store workers, postal workers, manufacturing, and agriculture. With the move to the next phase the department will open up online registration for appointments by this Thursday at noon. The Health Department expects heavy demand during the first few weeks of Phase 1b. Thanks to the many partners who have helped with the vaccination effort thus far, including Jackson County EMA, SIH, and many departments at SIU. JCHD is now posting a weekly COVID-19 vaccination update every Friday, promoting it through the health department’s social media accounts, and through JCEMA’s Nixle emergency messaging system. This update will help keep the community updated on vaccination efforts. Regions that meet metrics can return to Tier 2 mitigation measures starting Jan. 15. Region 5 suffers from a lack of ICU beds, which percent of ICU beds available is one of the metrics used to determine when the County can move back to Tier 2. Note that Tier 2 and Tier 1 do not allow indoor dining either. 

The Health Department continues to work on its Enforcement process for State Covid mitigation measures, particularly the ban on indoor dining & drinking. The department has some draft measures developed which need to be discussed with the State’s Attorney’s Office. Unfortunately, the mass vaccination effort has stretched the departments resources very thin, and left a few things, including this one not completed on schedule. 

VI. 21-5627 Solid Waste Enforcement 

Ms. Gale reported that there had been 2 open dump site visits, 2 new site visits, and 2 citizen complaints. She also noted that the team had been helping with the mass vaccination efforts and therefore did not have an update on the Solid Waste Fund or Recycling program. She commented that this would be ready for the February Legislative meeting. 

VII. 21-5628 Solid Waste Fund Update 

VIII. 21-5629 Recycling Program 

Emergency Management 

Mr. Rowe reported the following information: 

Completed, Updated and Submitted the County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) 

Completed and Submitted the Disaster Recovery and Redevelopment Plan (DRRP) 

Completed the Continuity Of Operations Plan (COOP) 

Completed the Continuation Of Government Plan (COG) 

Completed and Updated the County Core Capabilities and Threats and Hazards Assessment (IL-CATT) 

Completed the Initial Planning Meeting with Greater Egypt for Jackson County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP) 

Worked with the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge to conduct a Lake Dam Failure Exercise - Webex 

Assisted the Health Department with Five COVID Vaccination Clinics at the Banterra Center 

Received the complete FY-20 EMPG Grant Reimbursement which was approximately $26,000 

Attended as an Exercise Evaluator for a Table-Top Exercise with SIH St. Joe's Hospital on Mass Vaccinations 

Attended weekly Conferences Calls with the National Weather Service in Paducah 

Attended several EMA Training Webinars Online Ambulance Service 

IX. 21-5630 Ambulance Monthly Claims in the amount of $81,067.02 

A motion was made by Snyder, seconded by Scott, to approve the Ambulance Monthly Claims in the amount of $81,067.02. The motion carried by the following vote: 

Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Morris, Scott and Snyder 

Absent: 2 - Erbes and Rendleman 

X. 21-5631 Director's Report 

Mr. Schafer reported the following information: 

Monthly Claims: $81,067.02 

Accounts Receivable Cash: $532,624.62 

Activity Report: 833 patient care reports for 812 incidents 

Other Information: Due to the continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidelines and policy recommendations set forth by the CDC and IDPH Ambulance employees spend an unprecedented amount of time wearing N95 masks while performing their duties. A few of the employees have developed what is believed to be a possible allergic reaction to both types of N95 masks that are available. The supply chain has not been sufficiently restored to allow for a choice in size and brand of N95. In order to reinforce the safety of the employees and eliminate any issues regarding fit testing and brand/size of N95 available the department worked with County Administrator Huson to secure CURE money to provide the primary ambulances with Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). According to OSHA these devices provide 125 times above the protection offered by an N95. Fit testing is not required, they are reusable, and provide the employees a much safer and more comfortable response while performing patient treatment. Training has been done and the devices have been deployed on all of the primary ambulances. These are listed on the GL report as Pureflo Helmets. Total cost $11,758.70. These devices will be useful to the staff post-pandemic as an integral part of the respiratory protection policy. 

XI. 21-5632 2020 AFG Regional Radio Grant MOU 

Mr. Schafer communicated to the group information on the Memorandum of Understanding. This included the following: 

The Ambulance Department has been asked to participate in a regional grant with Carbondale and Murphysboro City Fire Departments in an attempt to obtain grant money through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace the departments aging radios. The Ambulance Department's total portion of the grant would be $182,228; the grant requires that the department provide a match of 10% of the total for the equipment purchased. The rules of the grant require a memorandum of understanding between the governmental entities indicating the equipment requested. 

A motion was made by Morris, seconded by Snyder, to approve the 2020 AFG Regional Radio Grant Memorandum of Understanding. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Basden II, Calandro, Morris, Scott and Snyder Absent: 2 - Erbes and Rendleman  

Legislative 

Citizen Comments 

Old Business 

New Business 

Baden commented that he felt it would be a good idea for the committee to review the Board's by-laws since they should be done on a bi-annual basis. He also suggested that the committee create an ordinance or resolution regarding the appointment of individuals by the Board to various committees to include reporting back to the board on a quarterly or monthly basis. Calandro commented that the State's Attorney Office would be looking into this.

Executive Session

Adjourn (5:27 PM)

Basden moved and Snyder seconded to adjourn, motion carried.