The Will County Public Health and Safety Committee met Oct. 5 to discuss nursing home updates.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:
The Health, Public Safety, and Justice Committee considers matters concerning a) the operations of the justice system in the County including civil and criminal courts; law enforcement; adult and juvenile detention; and emergency management, b) public health and environmental issues including prevention of disease, illness and injury; sustainability and resource conservation and care and support for the elderly and the disabled, c) animal control and protection and d) it shall serve as the Appeal Board under the Peoria County Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Ordinance.
WILL COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
302 N. CHICAGO ST. JOLIET, IL 60432
OCTOBER 6, 2016
County Board Committee Room Regular Meeting 9:00 AM
I. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Chair Judy Ogalla called the meeting to order at 9:10 AM
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Judy Ogalla Chair Present Donald Gould Vice Chair Present Joseph M. Babich Member Absent Liz Collins Member Absent Mark Ferry Member Present Annette Parker Member Present Jacqueline Traynere Member Absent
Also Present: H. Brooks and M. Johannsen.
Present from State's Attorney Office: K. Meyers.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Mr. Brooks led the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. WC Public Health & Safety Committee - Regular Meeting - Sep 1, 2016 9:00 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mark Ferry, Member SECONDER: Annette Parker, Member AYES: Ogalla, Gould, Ferry, Parker ABSENT: Babich, Collins, Traynere
IV. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS
1. Sunny Hill Nursing Home Updates - September 2016
(Sunny Hill Nursing Home Updates - September 2016)
Mrs. Sorbero advised in the Sunny Hill update packet is a national article where we were featured in the McKnights magazine. It is a national health care magazine that all the nursing homes, hospitals and doctor's office receive. They heard we were moving into private rooms and as a county facility they wanted to know how that is possible. County facilities, especially in Illinois, the mission is to provide the highest quality of care to all the constituents of the county no matter what your payer source is. Mrs. Ogalla is quoted in the article also. It is a nice article so if you can, please read through it. Other nursing homes have seen this and I am getting calls including one from Menard County.
Mrs. Sorbero thanked everyone stating it is a team effort to get this done. It has been 13 years of renovation. 6th Avenue will be completed by the beginning of the year and everyone is excited.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Amendments to the Will County Food Service and Retail Food Store Sanitation
Ordinance (Susan Olenek)
Mrs. Olenek advised we need to revise one of our ordinances. Our food sanitation and retail food store ordinance needs to be revised because the State of Illinois has repealed most parts of their state code. We adopt by reference the state food code. The state is moving in the direction of the FDA code but that won't be enacted, trained on and used until sometime in 2018 yet they repealed their food code last June. We need to have a mechanism for enforcement. We have followed what Skokie Health Department did which was adopting their own food service code. They took parts and excerpts of the state code that were not repealed and incorporated them into their ordinance and now they have a different city ordinance. Mrs. Bilotta has done that with our county food ordinance. We need to have a lawful document and ordinance that works for us so we have proper enforcement.
Mrs. Bilotta stated there are only two pages where we made any changes. We followed what Skokie did and of course had this reviewed by the State's Attorney office. The entire food service code for the state was in effect on June 28, 2016. On June 29, 2016 most of it was repealed and replaced with the FDA food code Chapters 1 through 7. However, the state has not rolled out the food code to anyone and not provided the inspection form or anything else. Since we are not enforcing the FDA code Chapters 1 through 7 we felt we needed to have something in place. We changed the reference, instead of just saying we adopt the food service sanitation code that we adopt the food service sanitation code that was in effect on June 28, 2016. It is on page 3 and page 4. That is the only change. We will have to update our code probably within the next year once the state moves forward with the FDA food code.
Mr. Fricilone stated if we are going to go to the FDA code and we know what the FDA code is, why aren't we writing that now?
Mrs. Bilotta replied we adopt what the state puts forward. They are still working on it and have not released to us their version of the inspection form or anything.
The FDA code is very voluminous and is a lot different than the current code. There will be some revisions that need to be done. Our sanitarians have to learn all the different citations and we will have different forms. The state can adopt sections of the FDA food code but they also want to keep sections of their current code so if they have allowed certain things in the past they want to keep them in there.
Mrs. Olenek advised we don't know what that is going to be at this point. We can't adopt by reference the FDA code and think we will be ok. We need to put ourselves in a position that protects our program and provides us the enforcement we need and the direction in the program itself.
Mr. Gould stated this is little confusing because you are saying they repealed what they had and the FDA is their new code. Has Illinois formerly adopted them but are having a problem with any regulation or any forms as to how they are going to implement it. That is where your problem is?
Mrs. Bilotta agreed.
Mr. Gould asked what are other counties doing.
Mrs. Bilotta replied other counties are having their state's attorney review it. The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a memo on August 30th, even though everything took place on June 29th, letting us know what sections were repealed. They are saying you are fine, you can keep doing your code, there is no problem.
Mrs. Olenek stated our legal counsel indicated that we needed to do this as well.
Mr. Gould advised they may have to explain all this to the full board at the County Board meeting.
Discussion regarding other counties and their food code ordinances continued at this time.
Mrs. Johannsen stated if they want the ordinance in effect on November 1st, they would need to have a public hearing prior to adoption. You can have the public hearing at the County Board meeting. When it comes up Mrs. Olenek and Mrs. Bilotta can explain everything during the public hearing.
Mrs. Johannsen advised we need a motion to move it forward to the county board and hold the public hearing there.
A Public Hearing will be held at County Board meeting during the Public Health & Safety Committee Report.
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] TO: Will County Board MOVER: Mark Ferry, Member SECONDER: Donald Gould, Vice Chair AYES: Ogalla, Gould, Ferry, Parker ABSENT: Babich, Collins, Traynere
VII. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
None.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
IX. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mrs. Ogalla advised Anastasia Tuskey would be providing an update on the heroin issue at the next meeting, November 3, 2016.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
1. Motion to Adjourn at 9:27 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mark Ferry, Member SECONDER: Annette Parker, Member AYES: Ogalla, Gould, Ferry, Parker ABSENT: Babich, Collins, Traynere
NEXT MEETING - NOVEMBER 3, 2016
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