City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Board of Health  
Department of Public  
Health and Human  
Services Health  
Thursday, October 12, 2023  
5:30 PM  
Regular  
Training Room 1, 1005  
W. Worley St  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
7 -  
Present:  
Harry Feirman, Elizabeth Hussey, Mahree Skala, Kathleen McKinney, R. Wade  
Schuette, Sonita Simelus and Jacqueline Fernald  
2 - Michael Szewczyk and Rosann Geiser  
Excused:  
Absent:  
1 - Jonathan Heidt  
a. Skala called the meeting to order at 5:38 pm.  
City Employees Present: Peyton Oliver and Rebecca Roesslet  
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
a. Hussey moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Feirman. Motion  
passed unanimously.  
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
a. Feirman moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Hussey, Motion  
passed unanimously.  
Attachments: BOH Draft Minutes 8-10-23  
IV. OLD BUSINESS  
V. NEW BUSINESS  
a. None  
a. Director, Crisis Services, Central Region Carisa Kessler (Burrell  
Behavioral Health)  
Carisa Kessler introduced herself to the Board and provided information  
about the 988 crisis hotline. Each state has their own certified 988  
answering service. The crisis hotline helps with a litany of issues not just  
people who are suicidal. There are many options that callers can choose  
such as responders from the Veterans Administration, LGBTQ responders,  
and Spanish speaking representatives. The call is routed to the nearest  
call center based upon area code and prefix. Crisis Services is working on  
getting people directed to call centers based on geographic location.  
Kessler discussed the frequency of calls and which months have the  
highest number of calls. The most calls come in the spring, where people  
are more likely to commit suicide. Central Region Crisis Services will send  
a representative to someone’s location, if it has been determined to be  
safe. 988 will discuss the specific crisis, dispatchers will try to keep them  
talking and try to get those callers from harming themselves or committing  
suicide. Texting is available and is often used by teenagers. 988  
dispatchers are working to take calls that would have been handled by 911  
based services, such as domestic disputes. A physical location has been  
added on Walnut Street. The first location works with anyone 18 and up to  
help with mental behaviors. Central Regional Crisis Services are working  
on opening a second location. Kessler answered questions about staffing  
and what training people would need to work at the Central Region Crisis  
Center. Kessler stated that they both need a range of qualifications from  
bachelor’s degree and Master’s degrees. Although, the Crisis Center is  
fully staffed when it comes to dispatchers. The 988 phone number is now  
listed on the back of Columbia Public Schools Student IDs. Kessler asked  
the Board and spread any information about the Crisis Center to their  
respective networks.  
VI. REPORTS  
a. Director's Report - Rebecca Roesslet  
Assistant Director Roesslet gave a brief overview of the state of Columbia  
PHHS. PHHS is still waiting for the updated COVID boosters to arrive and  
a press release will be sent out when they are available. PHHS is still  
holding Flu and RSV vaccine clinics for schools and for the general public.  
PHHS will be holding comfort clinics for those with sensory issues and  
those who have an aversion to needles. PHHS will have a count of positive  
COVID and positive flu cases. Roesslet has said she personally knows  
quite a few people who have tested positive for COVID in recent weeks.  
PHHS will only count lab tested positive cases and not tests from at-home  
testing kits. RSV is not reportable and there is not a way to count RSV  
cases.  
The mobile shower trailer did a trial run for unhoused individuals. The  
people who have used the trailer had very positive experiences. One of the  
showers is ADA accessible. The trailer will not be in use during the winter  
months and will re-open in the spring. The trailer will most likely remain at  
the Ashley Street location.  
City employees are working on contracts for the ARPA funds for the.  
Planners are working on re-accreditation for the National Accreditation  
Board and the yearly community health assessment.  
VII. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
The Board will not meet in December. After the January meeting, the  
Board of Health Meeting will be held bi-monthly. Members discussed  
potential issues and topics that they would like to work on in future  
meetings. Members stated that they would like to discuss poverty and pet  
vaccinations in Boone County.  
VIII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
January 11, 2024  
IX. ADJOURNMENT  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)