Public health board recruitment under way; county stocks HEPA filters for smoke response
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Summary
Public health staff told commissioners they are recruiting for four Board of Health vacancies, including consumer-representative seats and a seat reserved for the Squaxin Island Tribe, and described a smoke-event readiness plan that includes pre-positioned HEPA air filtration units for community locations.
The Mason County public-health director briefed commissioners on Board of Health vacancies and on a smoke-response plan that includes the purchase and distribution of HEPA air filtration systems.
Staff said there are four vacancies on the county Board of Health: one reserved to represent Squaxin Island Tribal interests, two consumer-of-public-health seats (reserved by state statute for residents who self-identify as having experienced health inequities or lived public-health program experience), and one seat to replace a school-system representative. County staff described outreach to on-site septic stakeholders, school officials and other community partners to fill these positions.
The director explained the state rule reference for the “consumer of public health” category: county residents may self-identify as having faced significant health inequities or lived experience with public-health programs (WIC, vaccine clinics and similar services). Staff also said board members cannot be elected officials or have fiduciary attachments to county public-health programs.
On emergency smoke readiness, staff reported the county purchased 24 HEPA air-filtration systems and two pallets of 20-by-20 replacement filters. The county plans to pre-position units in locations such as fire stations and other community facilities to serve as clean-air access points during smoke events; the county will also make units available free to lower-income residents who meet eligibility criteria. Staff asked for guidance on using chambers, libraries or fire stations as distribution points; commissioners suggested fire stations as preferable because they are often open.
Ending: Staff will continue recruiting for Board of Health vacancies and coordinate placement and public notice for the pre-positioned HEPA filtration units; commissioners encouraged outreach to partners such as the chamber of commerce, libraries and fire districts.