HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 06-20 Health official sought THE REVIEW , Health official sought
By MELANIE WAAGE said. The position requirements are to responsibilities, and existing problems
have at least one year of experience in an can be taken care of," said Raymond
The Ramsey County Board of Corn- environmental services position and have Cink, director of Ramsey County com-
missioners approved allocating$12,000 to a four year college degree with a major in munity health services.
the city of Maplewood to fund a full-time environmental services or related field, "We offered the city of Maplewood a
community environmental health officer. or substitute with experience. joint powers agreement or the option to
I'This action came after research and The person's duties will'include in- develop their own program along with
consideration of Maplewood's needs for a vestigating and resolving nuisances that other options,"Cink said. "Maplewood
full-time environmental health official, fall under the public health category will hire the person,and the county will
and the Maplewood City Council had complaints. assist with the funding.
approved a resolution to hire a full-time "We had a complaint yesterday, for The funding program was developed in
person. example,of a resident who keeps ducks in September,1977.In 1978,contracts were
Maplewood has had a part-time deputy the back yard.Feed was thrown onto the funded with Roseville and New Brighton.
health officer for several years.His part- lawn to feed the ducks,and a neighbor In 1979,those contracts were renewed and
time status,and health,have limited his was being dive bombed by other birds Maplewood has now been added.
duties and the quantity of work he could trying to get to the feed,"Olson said. The money will come from the Corn-
handle,according to a report to the city "Or, we have a lot of instances of munity Health Services Environmental
manager from Geoff Olson, director of animal manure piling up.A while back a Health Budget for grants to
community development. The officer, resident was housing 200 chinchillas in municipalities.
Frank Sailer, 915 Parkway Dr., her basement. They were taking the "This is a way for a community to take
Maplewood,will be retiring. animal droppings and adding it to their care of nuisance problems,"Cink said.
Because of the increase in restaurants garden.Well,this garden was within ten "City officials are bombarded with
and hotels in the area,the job respon- feet of a neighbor's bedroom window and complaints.There has to be a way to solve
sibilities have grown considerably. The on a hot,summer evening,well,you can the problems."
city will be assuming responsibility for all imagine." - ---restaurant inspections,which will require Other duties of the officer will include
a twice a year inspection. inspection of food and beverage establish-
The Maplewood community develop- ments, on-site sewage treatment in-
most staff felt it would be better to hire vestige tions, individual water well
their own staff person,as compared with system inspection and analysis,and in-
contracting to Ramsey County Health spection of non-public swimming pools.
Services. The council had approved The new officer will be responsible for
funding for a full time position when developing and enforcing a proposed
preparing the budget for 1978 and 1979, housing maintenance code, which is
"The county will be funding$12,000 of something some members of the
the cost for an officer,and the city will be Maplewood city council has shown an
supplementing with the rest,"Olson said. interest in seeing developed.
"The salary will be$16,770 per year,plus "It is the responsibility of the
fringe benefits." municipality to provide environmental
The city will run an ad and hopes to health services,and when they personally
have someone hired by August 1,Olson employ someone, they realize the