Thurston County mulls expanding Board of Health to 8 members

The Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has set a public hearing to accept comments on the ordinance to expand the County’s Board of Health (BOH) to eight members.

BOCC scheduled the public meeting on Tues., Mar. 22 at 3 p.m., or “as soon as the matter may be heard,” at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, Room 280.

“The expanded BOH will increase community representation to help address public health disparities,” County Manager Ramiro Chavez said.

Effective in July this year, the BOCC would adopt state rules in the recruitment, selection, and appointment of the local BOH members who are not elected officials.

The three elected county commissioners are the current BOH members. Additional members would include a city elected official; a tribal representative; a representative of public health, health care facilities, and providers; a representative of consumers of public health; and a representative of other community stakeholders.

Appointed members of the expanded BOH will not receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses for the performance of their duties.

“Expansion of the BOH will allow for the involvement of a greater number of persons in setting health policy throughout Thurston County,” Chavez said.