The Pierce County Board of Health had the proposed public health ordinance introduced at their meeting in mid-June. Here’s a look back at that meeting.

'I would like the Board's approval for consideration to move forward with a local communicable disease ordinance,' said Pierce County's Public Health Director AZ Snyder. 'I think this is pretty cut and dry, we are essentially cleaning up something that should have been done a while ago. By adding state statute language on communicable diseases from State Statute 252.03 in its entirety to our local ordinances.'

'This is not in our packet, right?' One board member asked about Snyder's proposal.

'No it is not, the draft is not ready yet,' Snyder responded. 'What I would like you to do is approve the cost of taking 252.03, which I am happy to refresh you on if you do not know that one in particular, and send it to F& P (Finance and Planning) for consideration to adopt locally. What it does is it allows a stronger foundation for us as locals to make a local order for communicable disease control and it will allow us to designate local penalties for violation of 252.03. The penalty that we are proposing is likely a forfeiture of $500 per week.'

'So, 252.03 was not at all identified by the Supreme Court Commissioner or mentioned at all so we believe it remains intact, but we need to have it locally as well. So what it says is, 'If you are a county health officer, upon appearance of any communicable disease in Pierce County, shall immediately investigate all the circumstances and make a full report to the appropriate governing body,’ which is you, the county board, and the department of health services. The local health officer shall promptly take all measures necessary to prevent, suppress and control communicable diseases. The Pierce County health officer may inspect schools and other public buildings within his or her jurisdiction as needed to determine whether or not the buildings are kept in a sanitary condition. The health officers may do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease; may forbid public gatherings when deemed necessary to control outbreaks or epidemics and shall advise the department of measures taken,' Snyder read to the Board.

Snyder informed the Board the only difference was adding 'Pierce County' to the language used in the statute.

'It's really just kind of a housekeeping matter and bringing it under county jurisdiction. This is typical of county ordinances where they just adopt a state statute. We are not inventing new language. This should have been done fifteen years ago,' Jon Aubart said as he made a motion that was seconded by Sharon Schulze to forward the statute to the F& P Committee for consideration.