Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />April 25, 2002 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 5 April 25, 2002 <br />a. Comprehensive Land Use Committee (CPLUC) <br /> <br />At its April meeting the Board of County Commissioners established the <br />Comprehensive Plan Land Use Committee (CPLUC). The committee will <br />offer its perspective on the comprehensive goals, objectives, and policies <br />for countywide comprehensive land use planning. <br /> <br />The Commissioners have requested representation on CPLUC by one <br />Board of Health member and one alternate. Mel Hurston volunteered to <br />represent the board, and Alice White volunteered to be the alternate. <br /> <br />b. Adult Care Home Ordinance <br /> <br />The Master Aging Plan adopted by the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners in 2001included a goal for Orange County to be a model <br />county “adhering to or surpassing federal and state guidelines which <br />address residents’ rights, quality of care and quality of life in long term <br />care facilities.” <br /> <br />The establishment of a short -term committee that would develop a local <br />county ordinance for the Board of County Commissioners’ approval to <br />improve the quality of care and safety of residents in adult care homes in <br />Orange County address this issue. Jonathan Klein volunteered to be on <br />this committee. <br /> <br />3. Nuclear Town Meeting <br /> <br />Concerns have been raised regarding contamination of the water supply in the <br />event of an accidental radiation release from the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power <br />Plant. Alan Rimer presented the draft of the OWASA statement to the Terrorist <br />Risk Symposium. General issues of water supply interruption, emergency <br />response to a radiation release, and post -emergency issues arising from a <br />radiation release were addressed. <br /> <br />Radioactive iodine, one of the contaminants that could be release in a nuclear <br />accident, can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Potassium iodide, a form of <br />iodine, is a drug that, taken in an appropriate and timely dosage, can block <br />exposure to radioactive iodine and has been determined by the U.S. Food and <br />Drug Administration to be a safe and effective method to block exposure to <br />radioactive iodine. FDA’s new guidance is based on studies conducted after <br />the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in 1986. <br /> <br />Based on a plan for potassium iodide distribution instituted by the state of <br />Vermont, the Board recommended endorsing distribution and availability of the <br />drug due to the proximity of Orange County to the Shearon Harris Nuclear <br />Power Plant. <br /> <br />Motion to support a study of the local and regional issues of water supply contamination <br />due to accidental radiation release was made by Mel Hurston, seconded by Alice White, <br />and carried without dissent. <br />