November Tompkins County health inspections
Posted on June 11, 2009, by admin, under News.
It is important to keep in mind that inspections are only a snapshot in the entire year of a facility’s operation and they are not always reflective of the day-to-day operations and overall condition of the operation.No critical violations were found at the following establishments during routine inspections:4 Seasons Golf Center, T-DrydenIC-Business School, T-IthacaIC-The Caf?at Park School, T-IthacaIC-Food Court, T-IthacaIC-Egbert Union, T-IthacaJohn Thomas Steakhouse, T-IthacaLansing High School, T-LansingLansing Middle School, T-LansingNew Delhi Diamonds, C-IthacaR.C.
Buckley Elementary School, T-LansingSamurai Japanese Restaurant, C-IthacaTC3 Athletics Facility, T-DrydenThat Burrito Place-The Commons, C-IthacaThe Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Inspection is an opportunity for the establishment to have the health department review food processes in the facility to make sure that all potential hazards are identified and to assure that the best food safety practices are being used.HACCP Inspections were conducted at the following establishments:Chili’s Bar & Grill, C-Ithaca during the initial inspection.The following establishments had no critical violations during re-inspections:CU-Robert Purcell Dining, C-IthacaDryden Middle School, T-DrydenMama Teresa Pizzeria, C-IthacaTST BOCES-Community School, C-IthacaThe violations listed below relate directly to factors that could lead to food-borne illness or injury.
These violations generally involve the food source and condition, food cooking and storage temperatures, sanitary practices, water and sewage, and the use of poisonous materials.Critical Violations were found at the following establishments:* Casper’s Diner, V-Groton.
Both products were discarded during the inspection.Potentially hazardous foods were not kept at or above 140 degrees F during hot holding.
Soup was observed at 116 degrees F.
The product was rapidly re-heated to 165 degrees F prior to return to customer service.A re-inspection was not conducted prior to submission of this report.* CU-Northstar, C-Ithaca.
Cooked chicken and rice noodles were observed at 50-53 degrees F.
Lo mien noodles were observed at 100 degrees F.
The products were rapidly chilled to 45 degrees F prior to return to service.A re-inspection was not conducted prior to submission of this report.* Miyake Japanese Restaurant, C-Ithaca.
The storage was rearranged during the inspection.Enough refrigerated storage equipment was not properly maintained to maintain potentially hazardous foods at or below 45 degrees F.
No food thermometer was available at the time of the inspection.A re-inspection was not conducted prior to submission of this report.* Fingerlakes Chinese Buffet, C-Ithaca.
Potentially hazardous foods were not kept at or below 45 degrees F during cold holding.
Ice cream mix was observed at 48.8-50 degrees F for customer service.
The product was rapidly chilled to 45 degrees F or below prior to return to service.A re-inspection was not conducted prior to submission of this report.The Food Protection Program received six complaints and investigated four related to issues and/or problems at permitted facilities.
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City mulls expanding inspection of rentals
Posted on June 9, 2009, by admin, under News.
An expansion of Lawrences rental registration program will require a larger than anticipated fee increase, if commissioners want the program to pay for itself.City Hall staff members are now estimating that a program to inspect all rental property that is at least 50 years old will require landlords to pay a $60 annual fee for each qualifying piece of rental property they own.
Originally, the city had estimated requiring a $40 fee.City commissioners have yet to decide whether to move forward on the program and are asking residents, landlords and others to chime in on the proposal in early January.We think it can be an important program, said Brian Jimenez, the citys codes enforcement manager.
We think it is important that tenants know there are some minimum housing safeguards that will be in place.But the program may face questions from city commissioners.
Mayor Mike Dever said he continues to question whether now is the right time for the program.The city estimates it will cost about $150,000 per year to operate the program.
The bulk of the expense involves hiring two inspectors and an administrative support specialist to oversee the paperwork.Jimenez estimates the program would add about 2,500 new apartments and rental homes that the city would be responsible for inspecting at least once every three years.Currently, the city is responsible for inspecting about 2,000 single-family homes that are used as rentals.
Members of the Oread Neighborhood and other neighborhoods that have high numbers of rental properties have urged commissioners to adopt the program.The rentals in many of those neighborhoods are not zoned single-family and thus are exempt from the current inspection program.
Those rentals would be inspected under the proposed program if they are at least 50 years old.The inspections would look for a variety of violations, ranging from electrical problems to fire code violations.
Jimenez said the inspections could result in some significant safety improvements, such as eliminating basement apartments that do not have proper fire escapes.Commissioners said they support the safety aspects of the program but are hesitant to add extra city employees or new costs during a tight economy.With the economy the way it is, everybody is cutting back, Commissioner Mike Amyx said.
Individuals can schedule one-on-one meetings to discuss the program with Jimenez on Jan.
15 at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.What are the current building inspectors doing now that construction has fallen off thecliff?
apartments and homes built in the 1960s and 1970s that were of such shoddy construction that they are not holding up nearly as well as some 51 year oldproperties.I say inspect them all and don’t discriminate as to age.
So, their $60/unit/year fee would help offset the cost of the more labor-intensiveinspections.Nah, that would make too muchsense.The current rental inspection are truly a waste of time.
They turned them into a life safety inspection that doesn’t ask about who or how many live in those homes.
This new program is still missing the point of what is needed to make rentals safer.
That would savelivesIt is a very good idea to inspect more rentalproperties.I would expect landlords could afford to pay $5/month, considering the high cost of renting in thistown.The developers are wanting more property and this is an easy way to getit.Think about it people.
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Bluffton mayor says inspections takeover was right move
Posted on June 9, 2009, by admin, under News.
Despite a dramatic slowdown in development in Bluffton, Mayor Lisa Sulka said Saturday the town made the right decision in taking over building inspection responsibilities that had been managed by Beaufort County.
That assurance comes despite doubt from at least one Bluffton Town Council member who said the timing of the new department’s opening is not ideal.
Bluffton’s Department of Building Safety officially will begin conducting building inspections formerly handled by the county’s Building Codes Department on Monday, several months behind schedule.
The town had expected to take in millions of dollars in new revenue after the new department’s opening.
In October, however, Bluffton officials projected about $1.7 million — or about a 13 percent — shortfall in the town’s operating budget.
The hit comes primarily from decreased revenues from building safety application and permit fees and other development fees associated with the new department taking over the inspections.
Sulka, who officially began her term as mayor Thursday, said Saturday she expects new construction to resume more forcefully in the next six to nine months.
Sulka said she expects the latest building permit figures to be released this week.
The department’s seven-member staff is led by director Frank Hodge, who served more than 20 years in a similar department on Hilton Head Island before coming to Bluffton.
Besides building inspections, Sulka said the staff has other roles to fill, including reaching out to low-income residents to help with projects like one Hodge began over the summer to stabilize homes for hurricane season.
There’s more in this department than just building inspections, she said.
Council member Fred Hamilton said he’s had reservations about the department’s opening since the takeover from Beaufort County was first discussed.
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Plumpton call inspection
Posted on May 8, 2009, by admin, under News.
We have had covers down since Friday and it is frost-free under those at the moment, but it makes sense to have a look in the morning.She added: We are forecast around minus three overnight, which is not as sharp as the previous night when we had minus six, so we are hopeful.
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County Stops Disabled Veteran From Selling Homemade Fruitcake
Posted on January 4, 2009, by admin, under News.
But health officials saw a small handmade window sign offering some for sale.Health specialist Fern Hastings says Melton must use a commercial bakery that has passed a health inspection even if he gives his cakes to the public.Melton says the 10- to 14-dozen fruitcakes he sold each year helped supplement his Social Security benefits.But the retired electrician says at his age, it’s probably time to quit anyway.
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