ASHLAND — Environmental health issues that staff is addressing and implementation of new health insurance rates for employees were the topics at Tuesday night’s Ashland County Board of Health meeting.
Director of Environmental Health Kim Wayman provided updates on two food-related issues.
First, she observed a woman selling rabbit meat and goat milk without proper licensure on Saturday at Loudonville’s farmer’s market. Wayman had previously noted observing raw milk being sold at a separate farmer’s market at the September meeting.
Wayman said because the health department does not provide licenses for those kinds of product sales, she could not embargo the food, but she did send an informal cease and desist.
She said the board should consider creating a formal cease and desist process for future unlicensed food sellers at farmers markets.
Wayman also discussed consistent, repeated violations at Little Caesar’s Pizza, located at 1127 Claremont Ave. Those violations included unsanitary areas from lack of cleaning, misuse of toxic chemicals, improper labeling of food and more.
She initially conducted an inspection on Sept. 3, the store had 30 days to address the violations, and the follow-up inspection found the issues were not fully resolved.
“I’ve given them two more weeks to take care of those things,” she said.
If the issues are not resolved by then, Wayman will potentially consider ceasing store operations until the issues are fully resolved.
There were also water damage issues in the upstairs floor; Wayman described the tile floor as “spongey.” In the basement, there was a large water spot underneath that spot.
Board member Doug Campbell said Ashland City’s building inspector would need to deem if the building is structurally sound. He recommended Wayman reach out to that department.
“Employee safety is our concern, and we don’t want to see someone hurt,” Campbell said.
Director of Environmental Health Pat Donaldson discussed an Amish home in Sullivan Township that has not made progress in properly discharging gray water.
Amish homes are permitted to use outhouses that have a vessel to collect human waste. But for gray water, which includes untreated water from laundry, sinks and bathing, Amish homeowners must work with the health department to install a discharge system.
Right now, gray water from the home discharges into a road ditch. While the township was doing road work, workers noticed the discharge and filed a complaint with the health department.
“It is a problem that needs to be taken care of,” Donaldson said.
In other business
Since Discount Drug Mart reopened after being shut down for a rodent infestation, Wayman said follow-up visits have shown no signs of rodent activity and pest control has not reported any either.
The board also implemented new insurance rate increases for employees, which is something it has only done once over the last five years.
The new rates reflect roughly 70% of Ashland County employee rates, making the new per-pay-period rate $130 for an employee and children, $70 for a single employee, $150 for an employee and spouse and $210 for an employee and family.
Health Commissioner Vickie Taylor said it’s unfortunate to have to increase rates, but the health department already charges a lower rate than most other health departments.
The board also appointed Campbell to be the new vice president of the board.
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