Comments on: County Reorganizes 911 Dispatch

By: Andy Brush

Andy Brush — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:10:40 +0000

Joan - Restaurant inspections are available on the county's website. You can search for your favorite restaurant, or one you are considering: Link

By: Kristin Judge

Kristin Judge — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:58 +0000

Thank you Public Health Department! There is so much respect in this community for our public health department. If the food handler program idea was brought to the board, I trust the judgement of our professional staff to understand that there is a health concern. The county is charged with restaurant inspection and food borne illness prevention. The conversation the board had about the food handlers’ course was not a vote! This was the beginning of dialogue, and I am thankful to hear the comments of the writers here. I encourage public dialogue and will continue to do so at the board table.

What happened after the meeting is important to note. I met with the restauranteurs and our Director of Public Health. Noting the concerns of the board, food servers and business owners, we have promised to meet again to come up with a solution that works for all the parties involved and keeps the public safe.

Brian, the $15 cost would not be charged to the business, therefore, it would not need to be passed on to the customer.

Lorie, I never leave less than a 20% tip because of my many years of working as a waitress. Unfortunately, I am not an average tipper. The 15% I mentioned is more common. If I go out to dinner with my family in downtown Ann Arbor, which I try to do as a way to “shop local” it is easy for a family of four to spend at least $50 on dinner. When we eat out, I notice many tables with more than four people and alcoholic drinks that could easily bring a tab up to $100. Is it wrong for people to eat out? I am not sure why my example was seen as something open to criticism.

It comes down to our responsibility for the safety of residents. If you want to be a nail technician or dog groomer, you need to take a safety class and pay a fee because the work you do could harm someone if you are not trained well. The same goes for food workers.

If anyone wants to talk to me personally, feel free to call me at 734-646-2088. I welcome your thoughts.

By: Joan Lowenstein

Joan Lowenstein — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:12:03 +0000

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. BTW, are the restaurant inspections recorded anywhere these days?

By: Jack F

Jack F — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:06:26 +0000

Not to mention the handful of local restaurants, including a couple on the westside of Ann Arbor, who openly use illegals who haven’t taken safety training and no doubt wouldn’t be getting this certification either. That would make for an interesting story or investigation by the county…in the same of food safety, but don’t hold your breath.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:10:09 +0000

The inspection fee sounds like another hidden tax, that will certainly be passed on to consumers.

By: ChrisW

ChrisW — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:11:34 +0000

Great, detailed report. Thanks.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:54:29 +0000

It is my prediction that the food handlers’ card idea won’t fly. The restaurant owners were very eloquent about the bureaucratic obstacles involved. You are right – thank you Jeff Irwin!

By: Lorie

Lorie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:12:55 +0000

Thank you Jeff Irwin!

The food safety program as proposed is a sham. How do you improve public health of the public isn’t sick? How did this get proposed without supporting data aleady available?

Do not do this to your food workers in this county. Not without data documenting a real problem and not without doing the research to account for the real cost and burdens of this program. $15 fee is the tip of the iceberg: administration of who has the card. Enforcement efforts of a department that can’t keep up as it is…

Ms. Judge seems to think that a $15 fee is equivalent to a tip on a $100 meal – I guess we know where she eats AND doesn’t tip well.