The meeting began with the oh-so-essential discussion of what constitutes a quorum. Spoiler alert: it’s four board members. Thank goodness that was settled, allowing the meeting to proceed in a timely fashion.

With the critical quorum issue resolved, the BOH moved on to discussing the financial report, which included the thrilling topic of hiring a company for field training for an Environmental Health specialist. The BOH also delved into the enthralling world of vouchers and payroll, a topic so riveting it could only be eclipsed by discussions on the organizational charter.

Speaking of the organizational charter, the BOH approved a new one that centralizes power in a single administrator instead of an administrative team. Because why spread responsibility when you can consolidate it into one person?

In a surprising twist, the Health Officer reported that Covid cases are double the state average, but the mask mandate in health care environments has been lifted. It’s unclear if this is an ingenious strategy to increase Covid cases, or if the BOH just loves to defy logic. Either way, the end of the federal public health emergency on May 11th will provide a much-needed excuse for decreased reporting and tracking of disease activity. After all, who wants to be bothered with details like that?

Finally, the BOH appointed new administrators and determined their salaries. Of course, this involved a healthy dose of back-and-forth on retroctive pay and comparing their wages to other districts. In the end, the BOH settled on generous salaries for both the newly appointed Public Health District Administrator and Environmental Health Director. It’s heartening to see that our tireless public servants are being handsomely rewarded for their efforts to protect our health – or not.

In summary, the Okanogan Board of Health’s latest meeting covered a
range of vital topics, from quorum counts to salary debates. The BOH’s
dedication to these issues, while addressing ongoing public health
concerns, is truly commendable.

It’s worth noting that despite lifting
the mask mandate in health care environments, the BOH will still likely
require masks in county public health offices, striking a balance
between safety and practicality.

With a well-paid administrator and a
clear understanding of what constitutes a quorum, the BOH is set to
tackle any challenges that come their way.

So, sit back and relax, knowing that the Okanogan Board of Health is hard at work discussing the most pressing and urgent matters of our time. After all, it’s not like there’s a pandemic going on or anything. Oh, wait…