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WELD COUNTY COUNCIL r-
November 15, 2005
Tapes 11A2005 & 1162005
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County
Home Rule Charter, Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 6:30 p.m., at Weld County Centennial
Center, 915 10th Street, Greeley, CO.
ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Vice President Dwaine Kurtz.
Councilman Tom Pettit and Councilman Gene Stille were present constituting a quorum
of the members. President Chip Marks and Councilwoman Ginny Buczek were excused.
Also present: Weld County's Regional Epidemiologist Jo Peden, Community Health
Section Manager Jill Burch, and Bev Thomas, council secretary.
REVIEW PROGRAM: Weld County's Regional Epidemiologist Jo Peden and
Community Health Section Manager Jill Burch of the Weld County Health Department
presented a review program covering the topics: "Influenza in 2005, Preparing for a
Pandemic, and Bird Flu." Ms. Burch gave a history of influenza, a highly infectious viral
disease characterized by an acute, sudden onset of fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and
progressing to respiratory symptoms with coughing. Flu is spread through respiratory
secretions. The Health Department is trying to teach people to prevent the spread of
influenza by coughing into one's elbow, frequent hand washing, encouraging the use of
masks, and giving flu shots. The flu changes every year and therefore people need flu
shots yearly which are generally given in Weld County during October and November.
The flu vaccines stimulate immune systems to provide a defense. The populations most
vulnerable to influenza and its complications are: very young children, people over 65
years old, and people with chronic disease. The most common flu complication is
pneumonia and there are 30,000 to 50,000 deaths from flu complications in the United
States yearly.
It is Jo Peden's responsibility to prepare for pandemic flu in Weld County and the region.
A pandemic occurrence of a flu strain is one that has never been seen before and that
spreads world wide. Weld County has a Public Health Emergency Operations Plan and a
Pandemic Influenza Plan, both of which mirror the State of Colorado's plans and the
Center of Disease Control's plans.
The Avian Influenza H5N1 is very difficult to transmit from fowls to humans, but fear of it
mutating to become easily transmitted among humans feed fear of a flu pandemic. There
have been less than a 150 cases worldwide of human Avian Influenza since 1997 and
they have all been in southeast Asia. Avian influenza has spread north from south east
Asia following the migratory patterns of birds, but to date has not entered North America.
2006-0044
Weld County Council Minutes
November 15,2005
Page 2 of 4
Avian flu vaccine is currently being produced, but it is unknown if the current vaccine will
protect humans against flu mutations. The hope is the current vaccine will provide a
certain level of immune response and thereby lessen the severity of the disease in human
cases. The possibility of an unknown flu mutation makes it imperative that any pandemic
plan be extremely flexible as no one knows how effective any available vaccines would
be.
If there were a true pandemic without an effective vaccine or anti-viral medications, tried
and true methods would be used by the Health Department to control it. The Health
Department's Public Health Preparedness Pandemic Plan includes guidance for
education clinics, respiratory etiquette, vaccinations, isolation, anti-viral distribution, and
containment. The pandemic education includes advising citizens to prepare to take care
of themselves for ten days to three weeks.
It is possible illegal exotic birds and cock fighting can spread Avian Flu, and health
departments are monitoring fowls on many fronts and watching the underground bird
market. In this area a veterinarian from Colorado State University is doing this
monitoring. Commercial production of fowl is very secure.
The Weld County Health Department's emergency preparedness mission is to prepare
for any natural or manmade disasters affecting the health of the county including
nuclear, biological, explosives, or chemicals. The nature of the disaster would dictate
who would be in charge of the incident. In most instances Weld County Office of
Emergency Management would be in charge of the disaster with Weld County
Department of Public Health and Environment assisting, unless it was a biological
event.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/APPROVAL: The printed agenda was approved by consent with
the addition of Future Review Programs under Coordinator Reports.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The October 18, 2005 Weld County Council minutes were
approved by consent.
PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Conflict of Interest: Pam Smith - Resolution 150
Councilman Gene Stille made a motion to adopt council's Resolution 150: Conflict of
Interest— Pam Smith. The council found Pam Smith did not have a conflict of interest.
The motion was seconded and carried.
Weld County Council Minutes
November 15,2005
Page 3 of 4
Preparation of Resolution Re: Signatures on WCC Candidate's Petition
Council members brainstormed regarding facts to present to the Board of County
Commissioners to request an election ballot to alter Weld County Home Rule Charter.
The proposed ballot amendment would be to change the number of signatures required to
petition to run for election to the Weld County Council from 200 to 35. The council will
continue with this project in 2006, and Vice President Dwaine Kurtz will check with the
Elections Department for any other information relevant to this endeavor.
Set Time and Day for 2006 Council Meetings
Councilman Gene Stille made a motion to have a preliminary draft of a resolution
prepared for the December 2005 meeting stating the Weld County Council's 2006
meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. on the third Mondays of the month except in February when
the meeting will be on the second Monday. The motion was seconded and carried.
Councilman Gene Stille made a motion the Weld County Council's January meeting be
January 16, 2006 in the first floor meeting room of Weld County Centennial Center, 915
10th Street, Greeley, CO at 6:30 p.m. The motion was seconded and carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Appointments and Announcements
Councilman Tom Pettit and Councilman Gene Stills plan to attend both the
December 5, 10:00 a.m., ACS Briefing and the December 12, 10:30 a.m., Elected
Officials Meeting at the District Attorney's Office.
COORDINATOR REPORTS:
Concerns RE: Road Work Near Mead
Vice President Dwaine Kurtz noted the council has received information from Weld
County resident Mr. Al Roberts regarding concerns about work done by Weld County
Public Works near Mead, CO. The information has been referred to Commissioner Vaad.
Immigration & Customs Enforcement(ICE) Office in Greeley
The council made note of the discussion in the media of the Board of County
Commissioners' resolution expressing support for the location of an ICE office in Greeley,
CO.
Follow-up RE: ACS Executive Manager Anita Scrams Review Program
After the October 18 Weld County Council meeting Anita Scrams spoke with Don Warden
regarding council's concern about the lag time between dismissal of a Weld County
employee and the time that a former employee's access to the Weld County computer
system is denied. The following policy was put into place on October 19, 2005.
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Weld County Council Minutes
November 15,2005
Page 4 of 4
Effective immediately, any Weld County employee who is 'terminated for cause' will lose
security for access into the Weld County computer system on the date of termination.
ACS will continue to be notified weekly, on Friday, of the names of employees who
voluntarily resign or retire in order to remove the employee from computer access.
January 2006 Review Program
Vice President Dwaine Kurtz has scheduled 2005 Board of County Commissioners'
Chairman Bill Jerke to present a program entitled "Review of Weld County Government in
2005" at the council's Monday, January 16, 2005 meeting.
Pay Bills: Councilman Gene Stifle made a motion to pay the bill as listed:
Mileage for Councilman Tom Pettit $17.42
Mileage for Councilman Gene Stille $19.04
Ft. Lupton Press for Legal Notice for
3rd Quarter Report to the People $24.00
The motion was seconded and carried.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
December 20, 2005
Date Approved Chip Ma s, Council President
Cii�`i W Thin fL l
Beverly Thomas, Council Secretary
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