Clark County Board of Supervisors Vote "No" on New Ordinance
Friday, March 29th, 2013 -- 8:33 AM
-The Clark County Board of Supervisors voted against the approval of the 2nd reading of an ordinance brought before them in February.The new ordinance would have allowed The Clark County Department of Public Health to become an agent of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, or DATCP, and giving the department the power to establish permit fees, issue permits, and make investigations into retail food establishments.
What all that means is that the Public Health Department would have been able to go into grocery stores, bakeries and similar establishments and provide them with necessary permits and also investigate and shut down an establishment, if need be, if it isn?t following all the health regulations.
Tim Anderson, a DATCP agent, said that the main focus would be food safety and it would help the state as DATCP?s department is already stretched very thin. He also said that by approving this, it would provide more money for the county as they would be allowed to keep 90% of the money from permits, fees, and other items.
The Board of Supervisors, however, said they didn?t want the county to take on this burden and be held responsible for an improper inspection. They also felt the department would not make money, only cost the county money. Another big issue with the board was they were worried what kind of power the county would have over churches, fairs, and other groups that serve food from time to time.
The 2nd reading was defeated, 16 no, 11 yes.
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