Dutch Mill's food license reinstated

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Board of Health members on Thursday voted unanimously to reinstate a food license for the Dutch Mill Restaurant and Bar in Minster.

Board members had revoked the bar's food license in June due to a 13-year history of violating health department policies and procedures, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. The Dutch Mill's food license was pulled and the owner, Brian Clune, was allowed to apply for a level-one license, which allowed the service of beverages, including alcohol, but not the service of food.

Clune had applied for and was granted the level-one license and was able to stay open as a bar while a series of refurbishments and cleanings were made. With the cleanup and upgrades now complete, Clune attended the health board meeting on Thursday to ask for reinstatement.

"We had another inspection on the sixth and did find that they are completely in compliance," said sanitarian Aaron Longsworth, who recommended the reinstatement. "They have all their physical upgrades accomplished, and the place has stayed in a much cleaner stage than it has been, and we ask the board to allow them to return to the service of food at this time."

Longsworth noted the establishment still has a minor issue with a leak inside the walk-in cooler in the basement that has been a problem for several years, and the Dutch Mill staff has been working on the issue since before the license revocation in June. He added that the issue was not a major health concern.

As a stipulation of the reinstatement, health department sanitarians will inspect the restaurant on a quarterly basis, rather than the typical twice-yearly schedule. The staff already has a list of procedures that must be followed which was made in conjunction with an operations plan drawn up by Clune.

Also at Thursday's meeting, director of nursing Brenda Eiting reported that flu season in Auglaize County is mild so far this year with no outbreaks of the disease. The department gave 679 vaccinations in October, 215 of which were flu shots.

The department gave 84 flu shots during the Oct. 23 "Say Boo to the Flu" Halloween-themed event. Eiting noted the number of flu shots given thus far has declined again this year but added it's mostly due to the wide variety of outlets where the shots can be obtained.

Board members issued 7-day orders to show proof of a current rabies vaccination to specific dog owners on N. Knoxville Ave., St. Marys, and on Clover Four Road, New Bremen.   

In other action, board members,

• approved October receipts of $140,218 and expenditures of $202,396 for the health department and receipts of $26,190 and expenditures of $10,680 for Family and Children First.

• approved the payment of October bills of $115,005 for the health department and $2,303 for Family and Children First.

• approved the Community Health Improvement Plan Hospital Council contract for $9,500.

• approved the purchase of a group health insurance plan for all employees from United Health Care at a total cost of $14,530 per month.
  • approved a 2017 snow removal contract with Krites Excavating for $135 per event for plowing parking areas, $90 per event for salting parking areas and $55 per event for shoveling and salting sidewalks.