Rice County Commissioners Meeting July 16, 2024
Present: Purfeerst, Malecha, Docken, Underdahl,
Absent: Hoisington
Public Comments: HS senior spoke to substance abuse in the schools, need for education, beginning in elementary school. Retired physician spoke to health consequences of tobacco use. HCI member spoke to community interventions for youth and substance use/abuse. Advocates prohibition of sales of any flavored/menthol tobacco in any form. Advocates minimum age for selling tobacco (18), to match age at which one can sell alcohol. Educator spoke to changes over past 25 year in tobacco use among youth, and the spike with vaping, THC.
Public Health/Nursing: Deb Purfeerst. To discuss Tobacco Retailer Ordinance Discussion. Working on this ordinance for months, drafts have been revised. Goal of ordinance into effect July 2025.
Walked through proposed ordinance with few changes until discussion minimum clerk age; adjusted from no minimum to age 18.
Flavors and menthol restrictions: changed from no restrictions to prohibition of flavors and menthol. Consensus is that the discussion ought to be at the state level, rather than counties and municipalities, but that this is a start.
Community Services: Angela Brewer. Community Corrections updates, midyear. Reviewed expanding client services, workload management, Federal grants, technical assistance and increased community partnerships and collaboration. Reviewed staffing and retention (only one vacancy at this time, good retention). Reviewed midyear 2024 strategic goals and plans.
Adjourn
