MOUNT VERNON — The solid waste nuisance at Armentrout Road has finally been cleaned up. Interim Health Commissioner Pat Tuttle reported an inspection by the Knox County Board of Health found all solid waste had been removed from the property.
The owner, David Proper, did not have to serve any jail time and was not held in contempt of court despite months of noncompliance with a KCBH directive to clean up the property.
Bruce Malek, representing the owner of the Super 8 Motel on Coshocton Road, appeared before the board to report the issues with the swimming pool at the hotel have been resolved. The board had previously suspended the permit for the pool until issues concerning the fitness of the pool were resolved. Suzanne Dapprich was at the meeting and confirmed her inspections of the pool showed the problems had been resolved and recommended the pool’s permit be reinstated as long as frequent inspections were made. The board approved the reinstatement of the permit.
Tuttle reported seven applications for the position of health commissioner have been received by the personnel committee.
“It is in the best interest of the department that a transition take place sooner than later,” she told the board.
The board went into executive session at the end of the public portion of the meeting to discuss the applications and procedures for naming a new commissioner.
In other business:
•The board voted to renew the contract with the state of Ohio to provide enforcement of the statewide smoking ban. Although there was some discussion of whether it was appropriate for the board to provide enforcement services, it was decided it did fit in with the overall duties of the department. Tuttle noted the board receives 90 percent of any fines levied in cases the board investigates.
•The board approved temporary summer employment of Richard Scott Pauley as a sanitarian in the environmental Health Division effective July 13.
Tuttle reported several local farmers attended the Farmers Market Nutrition Program training session at the department in July. Three farmers have submitted agreements and completed requirement to begin accepting FNFP coupons from WIC participants at the Farmers Market on Public Square in Mount Vernon.
•Tuttle reported to the board that 100 doses of H1N1 vaccine which had expired June 30 had been returned to the manufacturer as instructed by the Ohio Department of Health. She said the local clinic had several doses of the vaccine on hand that expire in 2011.
•Water samples at the Knox County Fairgrounds were collected and tested prior to the 2010 fair. All samples came back as being acceptable for human consumption.
