LAKEPORT — During a syringe exchange program operated for a year in Lake County, program staff referred a number of clients to treatment programs, health services and other assistance programs, the Lake County Health officer said Tuesday.
Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait gave a presentation to the Lake County Board of Supervisors on the program that focuses on harm reduction and preventing the spread of HIV and hepatitis. The program runs without county funding.
Thirty-one adults came in on 146 occasions, exchanging a total of 56,420 syringes, Tait said. Often, people will exchange syringes for other people.
“Thirty-one people using 60,000 needles, that sets off alarms,” Supervisor Rob Brown said.
Supervisor Denise Rushing asked if the goal is to reduce communicable diseases, how would the county know.
Tait said because the number of people infected in the county is so small, it may take 20 or 30 years to see a change. However, she still thinks the program is worthwhile, especially considering the long-term consequences from hepatitis C.
“Even prevention of one case of that would be a very effective move,” Tait said.
In 2008, the board adopted a resolution authorizing a clean needle and syringe exchange program. A year later, the board approved an agreement with Any Positive Change recognizing it as a community based organization interested in operating a syringe exchange program to include giving data to Lake County Health Services. Health Services Director Jim Brown said that an underground exchange program has been working in the county for years.
People can contact Any Positive Change at anypositivechange_lakeco@hotmail.com or get information on its Web site, anypositivechange.net.
The board addressed a number of issues at its meeting that started 9 a.m. Tuesday in the County Courthouse in Lakeport. Chairman Anthony Farrington was absent.
The Clear Lake Advisory Committee gave its quarterly report and had a discussion with the board on a proposed bylaw revision regarding committee membership categories.
Commissioner John Parker told the board the Lake County Heritage Commission drafted a historic preservation ordinance and a historic site registry for the board to soon review. Parker presented the commission”s annual report to the board. The commission is also developing a contractor and supplier list of people who want to preserve and rehabilitate historic structures.
Manager Meriel Medrano of the Anderson Springs Community Service District came to the board with a request for geothermal mitigation AB1905 funds for water tank improvements in Anderson Springs. The existing water tank needs painting and retrofitting for seismic activity and the district wants to install a new tank while the repairs are made. Medrano said she would come back to the board with a dollar amount, which may be discussed during budget hearings.
Supervisor Jim Comstock, sitting as the chair, said he considers the project a high priority as the community is greatly affected by geothermal activities.
“I firmly feel this project is essential,” Comstock said. “They do need two tanks.”
Board members agreed to accept public donations for Highland Springs Trail improvements, including those from local equestrian groups that use the trail.
The board approved an agreement with R. Gary Hicks for consulting services on the condition of county-maintained roads in the Clearlake Keys subdivision.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
