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LISBON -- In the two years since the East Palestine train disaster, the Columbiana County Health District collected 1,711 private water samples in the established priority zones from 250 different locations.
Health District Environmental Director Laura Fauss said multiple samples were taken from some of the locations and the department is still collecting private water samples from the priority zones.
Anyone wanting to schedule a time for collection of a water sample can contact the health department at 330-849-3919. Maps showing the priority zones can be seen on the health district website at www.columbiana-health.org, along with results of the water testing.
When asked about the results, Fauss said there were detections and exceedances for various chemicals of concern, but none were associated with the derailment.
Fauss talked about the water sampling during her report to the health district board Wednesday. Board member Linda Garwood asked how long the water sampling will continue.
Fauss said seven years, but at this point, she didn't know if that was seven years from the date of the derailment or from when the water sampling started.
She's still working on paperwork related to a program that will expand the private water sampling areas further than the priority zones with $2 million that was promised through the Environmental Protection Agency.
In other business, Health Services Administrator Amanda Amato reported on the latest numbers of influenza hospitalizations in the county, which have increased substantially. In January this year, there were 35 hospitalizations involving the flu, while there were 25 in January 2024. So far this month, there have been 54 hospitalizations due to flu. At the same time last year in February, there were only four.
COVID numbers dropped, with the stats representing anyone who tested positive whether hospitalized or not, but only numbers that were reported, recognizing that there could be more. In January this year, the number of positive cases was 193 and in January last year the number was 313. In February so far this year, the number was 79. For the same time period in February last year, the number was 102.
Amato noted that it's not too late to get a flu shot at the health department. Just call 330-424-0272 to make an appointment. COVID test kits are still available for free, too, in the lobby.
The board entered into executive session for half an hour for personnel related to travel, coming out and approving travel for plumbing inspector Leon Estes to a conference in Columbus and for Logan Barna, environmental health specialist in training for the food and survey program, to attend a different conference in Columbus. For Barna, though, he's permitted to attend for the credits only but not for the exam training course, which he must pay for himself.
The board issued board orders against Tracy Marshall, McDonald Street, East Liverpool, for the removal of garbage and for the draining and proper maintaining of a swimming pool on the property. Board orders for the removal of garbage were also issued against the D&E Legacy Group, LLV, care of Eric Davis, Austintown, for a property on Main Street in Wellsville. Fauss said the Marshall property is occupied, but the Wellsville property is vacant.
The board also established a $1 mailing fee per certificate for vital statistics documents that must be mailed in the regular mail, deposited $1,500 in the Disease & Disaster Fund and allowed Health Commissioner Dr. Wes Vins to enter an agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency related to the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund.
The next meeting of the health district is 4:30 p.m. March 19 at the health department on state Route 45, Lisbon. The District Advisory Council, which consists of representatives from the townships and communities served by the health district, will meet March 17, also at the health department.