Board of Health - January 10, 2025 Minutes
The regular Meeting of the Board of Health of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 o’clock p.m., Friday, January 10, 2025.
John Strand, interim chair presiding.
Present: Jayme Steig, PharmD; Grant Syverson, MD, John Strand, Jim Kapitan
Absent: Bernie Dardis
Others: Mayor Timothy Mahoney, Commissioner Denise Kolpak, Nancy Morris, Jenn Faul, Doug Murphy (online), Dr. Jessie Lindemann, Holly Scott, Jan Eliassen, Carissa Raaen, Melissa Perala, Suzanne Schaefer, Larry Anenson, Grant Larson, Lori Sall
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda introduced by John Strand, move to approve by Jim Kapitan, seconded by Grant Syverson. All members voted aye, and the motion was declared carried.
Approval of Meeting minutes
From December 6, 2024; motion to approve by minutes by John Strand, move to approve by Jim Kapitan, seconded by Grant Syverson. All members voted aye, and the motion was declared carried.
Announcements:
Jenn Faul extended gratitude to the previous members, Lyn Telford, Nyamal Dei and Kayla Nelson. Introduced Dr. Jessie Lindemann as the interim health officer who will serve until the RFQ is completed and a new health officer is contracted.
Health Officer RFQ:
Roles and responsibilities of the FCPH Health Officer provided to Board Members for review. The job description was from ND Century Code and created by the division managers stating what services they needed from a Health Officer. Previous rules and responsibilities were changed (contract with NDSU), the expectations are more extensive, and the hours have changed to 4 hours a week. Dr. Syverson has asked if a public education piece be added to the agreement. Dr. Syverson makes a motion to add public education to the agreement, Jayme Steig seconded with the comment regarding the importance of reporting and community advocacy being a part of a health officer position. Unanimous aye vote. This role will continue the same close partnership with ND Department of Health and Human Services, Disease Control and the State Epidemiologist Office. Motion to approve the modified RFQ introduced by John Strand, move to approve by Grant Syverson, seconded by Jayme Steig. The vote is unanimous. Grant Syverson would like the Board of Health to be involved in the interview process.
Community Health Needs Assessment:
Jenn Faul presented the community health assessments from Sanford (2025-2027) and Essentia (2023-2025). What are the gaps that are not being met in the community, access to affordable healthcare, healthy living, quality childcare, public transportation, and affordable housing. Fargo Cass Public Health is looking at what of those gaps we can assist in filling. We plan on meeting with Sanford to tell them what we have been doing and how we can partner to meet community health needs.
Grant Syverson volunteered to be on the workgroup to work with FCPH to assist with the Community Health Needs Assessment. This process takes approximately three years. Besides Sanford and Essentia there will be many others at the table for these discussions.
Commissioner Strand reinforced the importance of keeping equity in mind and making sure that marginalized and underrepresented groups are involved. Jan Eliassen pointed out that other racial/ethnicity groups are overrepresented in homelessness and the impact of homelessness has a considerable impact on lifespan. Jayme Steig asked if FCPH has internal data that has pointed to community needs. Ms. Faul responded that the leadership team is working on it, and they have identified food and access to nutritious food as an area for improvement.
Board of Health position openings:
Fargo Cass Public Health is seeking three members, have eleven candidates and the closing time is January 31, 2025. The commission will appoint them. It doesn’t have to be just people with medical field experience, public health is also, Emergency Preparedness Response, Environmental health. Discussion about the absence of the previous members and the reassurance that the Board will be fully appointed soon.
Overview of SE Regional Support:
Fargo Cass Public Health does provide services to the 6 south east counties in North Dakota, Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Traill. Jenn Faul introduced Doug Murphy (online) to present Emergency Preparedness and Response Divisions interactions with the SE region.
Doug Murphy stated that they are totally funded by the CDC, that sends funds to the states, which in ND is to the ND Department of Health and Human Service Center Emergency Preparedness and Response Section, then they partition out the funds to the regions in the state. They provide assistance to facilities that hold people overnight (long term care, shelter, etc.) and vulnerable people (who may reside at home). They have assisted with incidents like, Elim fire, Casselton derailment, respiratory FIT testing and standing up of COVID vaccine sites. Learning how to send out mass notifications with their new emergency system. Fargo Cass Public Health works with the other region’s Emergency Managers. Grant Larson presented slides on the services that Fargo Cass Public Health’s Environmental Division provides for Fargo, West Fargo, Cass, Richland, Ransom, Traill, Steele and Sargent County. Mr. Larson described what a nuisance complaint is for Environmental Health as tall grass and weeds, in the county it’s blighted buildings, rodent harborages, excess tires that hold water that would become mosquito breeding grounds. If the county doesn’t have an ordinance they will revert to the ND Century Code. Jenn pointed out that FCPH has a SE region meeting the first Friday of every month with the other administrators. Today Brenda Stallman and Kayla Nelson attended the meeting and Ms. Faul said they may be available to chat after the meeting.
Public Comments: None
Next Meeting: 04/04/2025
Adjourn: 1:00 pm