Supervisors vote down food safety ordinance
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

King

In a surprise outcome last week, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors turned down a proposed ordinance by the county health department that would have required food handlers working in county restaurants and other food-related businesses to complete at least three hours of food safety and sanitation training.

Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey looked surprised when she and Board Chairman Kelly Miller didn't get a third vote to pass the measure. Supervisors Art Warren (Clover Hill), Don Sowder (Midlothian) and Dickie King (Bermuda) voted against it.

King said he favored the safety provisions but didn't think those businesses should have to pay for the training. He owns a restaurant and a catering business.

Chesterfield's Health Director Bill Nelson estimated 2,000 workers would be impacted in the first year at a cost of $12 per person for the course. The $24,000 raised by the fees would have been used to hire a part-time course instructor. Nelson said the training would reduce the spread of food-borne illnesses at the more than 700 eating establishments in the county.

The Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce opposed the ordinance. Some restaurateurs complained that the ordinance would have been difficult to implement due to rapid turnover in employees. One restaurant owner said it would be near impossible for his employees to receive the training since they speak six different languages.

Other fees

The county animal shelter's request to double the fee charged for sterilizing male cats to $30 was approved as was a $10 fee to adopt a cat. Those hikes are anticipated to create $10,000 more revenue annually.

The Utilities Department can charge an additional $4.76 bimonthly to cover higher water and wastewater costs. Chesterfield officials say the county's rates are "significantly less" than Henrico and Hanover counties and the city of Richmond.

Connection fees for a 5/8 inch residential size meter is going up from $3,592 to $3,970 for water and from $2,050 to $2,370 for wastewater.

The county's bad check fee also increases from $25 to $35, the state's maximum.