Complaints about a dog, restaurant, camper occupy health board

By Mary Zielinski
Posted 12/27/22

Complaints about a biting dog, food problems at a restaurant, and a non code-compliant waste system for a camper were key environmental health issues for the Washington County Board of Health at its …

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Complaints about a dog, restaurant, camper occupy health board

Posted

Complaints about a biting dog, food problems at a restaurant, and a non code-compliant waste system for a camper were key environmental health issues for the Washington County Board of Health at its meeting December 22. 

The most serious concerns the dog, with the most recent incident occurring December 16, said Environmental Health director Jason Taylor.  The animal was reported as not up to date on rabies shots and had not been placed under quarantine, although owners were told to do so.  There seems to be no plan for the dog, noted Taylor.

As a result, owners received a $750 citation for the biting incident for failure to guard the dog, which will be charged for each day until December 28.  If not met, it will become $1,000.

The owners also have said they have neither the funds for the shots nor the fines.

“It’s just the start of this,” said Taylor, who explained the case will go to magistrate’s court and “if found guilty, it will advance to district court.”  He added that given the financial situation, it is “worthless” to impose fines.  Reportedly, the dog had attacked another animal that died as a result.

The restaurant problem involved 11 complaints of possible “food poisoning,” a figure “that is pretty high,” said Taylor.  The business had a routine team inspection November 29-30.  Following the recent reports five violations were noted, including hand sanitizers not being present (accessible) and also about food cooking temperatures and staff licenses.  However, Taylor stressed that the owners “were cooperative and willing to agree to a plan” to meet all state and federal requirements for food service businesses.   

The camper in question is in a pole barn in Wellman and no one is living in it, said Taylor.  However, there are plans to move it to a rural site on 275th Street, but the site has no waste system that meets set code.  As a result, the two owner/occupants are “staying elsewhere.”   However, Taylor said, there are plans to bring it up to required standards; they have six months to do the additions.

In other business, the board:

•Approved reappointment of Connie Larson to the board.

•Approved required updates for the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program and for policies and procedures, specifically chapters 4 and 5.

•Approved Sarah Smith frozen from part-time to full-time Social Worker, effective January 1, 2023.  Wage will reflect the changes in steps, including the three-percent increase approved earlier this year by the county supervisors.

•Approved the resignation of Jessica Janecek, effective January 5, 2023.  She had been with the department for ten years and is leaving for a new position.

•Approved the new lease with Federation Bank for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of the building with the exception of suites 410 and 420 occupied by Juvenile court.  The department also has the exclusive use of the community room kitchen on the 5th floor.    Rent will be $6,000 a month (previously it was $5,800) and the department will have to find its own dumpster in January; it previously had use of the bank’s, but the bank has vacated the building.

•Noted it was Dr. Chris Grier’s last meeting and that the “reception” planned to thank him for his years of service had to be cancelled due to the blizzard-like conditions that came with the snowstorm that made all members attend via zoom, who shared their individually prepared “goodies” only visually.

•Announced that Department Administrator Emily Tokheim and her husband, Jake, welcomed their first child, son Cooper James, December 20.

•Set the next regular meeting for January 26 at noon after noting that they will likely hold a special budget meeting prior to then.