Custer County Board of Health (BoH)

June 17th Meeting

From Tracy Ballard, The Valley Beat

by Tracy Ballard
The Custer County Board of Health (BOH) held a meeting on Thursday, June 17th, to consider whether to approve documents with specific guidelines relating to Houses of Worship, Life Rights, Businesses, Camps, and Gyms and Pools.
All three commissioners were in attendance as well as Public Health Nurse, Elisa Livengood, Office of Emergency Management Director, Meredith Nichols, and dozens of concerned citizens.
Commissioner Printz made a motion to accept the June 12 minutes as written, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Flower.
Motion passed unanimously.
Livengood spoke on the waivers that event organizers would need to sign in order to have their events. As reported last week, the waivers would release the County and Custer County Public Health from any liability should someone fall ill, etc. if the event takes place. Commissioner Printz gave kudos to Livengood for working on getting the variance request for the rodeo to take place, in such a timely fashion.
Last week, Livengood tendered her resignation as Public Health Director, effective following the hiring and orientation of a replacement, the BOH discussed the timing of an announcement needed to find the successor. All agreed that it needed to be placed immediately. Printz made the motion to authorize Human Resources to place an ad utilizing all normal channels to fill the Public Health vacancy. Flower seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Discussion also ensued as to the hiring of a temporary Secretary to the BOH. This individual would stay in the position until a new Public Health Director is hired as the position would permanently be filled by that individual. Chairman Canda stated that a citizen, John Adams, had volunteered his time to fill the position on a temporary basis. Printz made a motion to accept Adams as the Secretary to the BOH on a temporary basis until the position was filled permanently by a new director. Flower seconded the motion which passed
The commissioners read the documents of specific guidelines from the state with regards to Houses of Worship, Life Rights, Businesses, Camps, and Gyms and Pools. Each motion was called for individually and all passed unanimously. The guidelines have been placed on the Custer County Public Health website so that citizens can read and become familiar with them.
A few in the public expressed concern as to how these guidelines would be “enforced.” Printz stated that it would be on an ‘honor system.” No one would be going around writing tickets or arresting anyone. Flower asked a question of Livengood, “If the governor comes out with less-restrictive guidelines, do we need to re-write them?” Livengood replied that they will just need to play it by ear. If there is a huge uptick in cases locally, such as 10 new cases within a seven-day period, they would need to make changes.
Silver Cliff Mayor H.A. “Buck” Wenzel was on the call and commented that he was concerned for the 29 businesses in his town that should have the opportunity to open as they see fit and it shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach. A local citizen, Gary Dent, gave accolades to Mayor Wenzel for all the steps he has taken for the residents of the town. Mayor Wenzel also commented that he didn’t agree with the way the commissioners were holding the $300,000 that the county could potentially lose if they defy the orders put down by the state.
Motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Printz and seconded by Flower. There was not an announced date for the next BOH meeting.