Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> November 20, 2024 <br /> D. Wastewater Rules Revisions <br /> Victoria Hudson, Environmental Health Director, presented proposed revisions to the Orange <br /> County Wastewater Rules based on recent state legislation changes. <br /> Mr. Whitaker commented that most of the changes seemed definitional, with a few new items <br /> adjusting setbacks or design numbers and flow rates. Ms. Hudson said this revision is legally <br /> considered to be "technical corrections." Mr. Whitaker also asked about the revision to setbacks <br /> for both wells and wastewater systems/saprolite, which seems like an error as wells and <br /> wastewater systems are intrinsically different and it seemed strange to combine them in a single <br /> setback requirement. Ms. Hudson agreed that this was odd but explained that this was the way <br /> the state had decided to combine those items at this time. <br /> Dr. Jonnal clarified that these changes are mandatory, as the revisions are based on legislative <br /> changes, but that individual counties still have the option to issue or retain requirements that are <br /> more conservative than the state requirements, which Ms. Hudson affirmed. <br /> Dr. Royce asked if there were any changes which affected health department functioning; Ms. <br /> Hudson said no, but that there was one revision she didn't like, which removed the need for a <br /> second septic tank for quiescence for households with a garbage disposal. She added that <br /> Environmental Health is now planning an educational campaign promoting composting. <br /> Motion to approve the proposed revisions to the wastewater rules was made by Dr. <br /> Shielda Rodgers, seconded by Dr. Alison Stuebe, and carried without dissent. <br /> E. BOH Annual Workplan <br /> Jean Phillips-Weiner, BOH Strategic Plan Manager, presented the annual workplan report draft. <br /> Each spring, the chair of the BOH presents this report to the BOCC, which helps keep the <br /> commissioners up to date on the board's activities and the priorities that the board is working to <br /> address. <br /> Board members had a few revisions and suggestions for the report, including: <br /> • Dr. Royce and Dr. Nickelson commented that they each sit on additional boards that can <br /> be added to the report. <br /> • Dr. Royce recommended that concerns about changes to the public health ecosystem <br /> under the upcoming presidential administration should be added to the concerns and <br /> emerging issues section of the report. Some specific concerns highlighted included <br /> fluoridation, vaccination, monitoring infectious disease, chronic disease, changes to <br /> Medicaid, immigrant wellbeing, impacts to mental health related to changes to public <br /> health ecosystem, and changes in CDC structure. Commissioner Fowler agreed that <br /> proactive messaging to the community about believing science and trusting in vaccines <br /> would be important. Dr. Stuebe commented that framing public health within the Vital <br /> Conditions Framework (for example, "humane housing" vs. "affordable housing and <br /> homelessness") may be a good strategy under a changing administration. Ms. Stewart <br /> suggested that the upcoming board retreat would be a good opportunity for the board to <br /> discuss a plan to address these concerns. <br /> • Mr. Bagby commented that the presentation to the BOCC is very brief—generally only <br /> the highlights and newest things, as there isn't time to go more in depth. Commissioner <br /> Fowler said that the commissioners do read the whole document, but the presentation is <br /> only a few points of pride and concerns. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2024 Agenda and Abstracts/ <br /> November Page 7 <br />