Minster resident buys noted eatery

WAPAKONETA - Minster's Wooden Shoe Inn has been sold, officials learned at Tuesday's Auglaize County health board meeting.

Environmental health director Curt Anderson said the landmark restaurant was sold to Minster resident Andy Phlipot at the beginning of the month.

Records from the Auglaize County Auditor's office showed building owner John Hobler sold the building to NCH Holdings LLC on Dec. 3. While Anderson did not have further information about the sale, he said Phlipot has experience in the food industry as part owner of the Wooden Shoe Brewing Co.

Anderson said he believes the restaurant will be open for the rest of the year but will close for six to eight weeks in early 2020 to allow for remodeling of the kitchen and work in the dining room and other areas.

The restaurant's former owner was in trouble after board members in May threatened to suspend or revoke the restaurant's food service license. Anderson said the bar and eatery had averaged five critical violations and 19 non-critical violations per inspection over the past two years and five inspections. Critical violations are those that have the potential to cause food illness outbreaks.

Anderson said the owner had been sent a letter of concern in July 2017 regarding the inspections of the previous two years. And in an April 19 letter to license holder Fred Meyer, Anderson wrote the health board would consider revoking or suspending the establishment's food service license as a result of a "repeated failure to maintain substantial compliance" with the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code.

After a narrow 3-2 vote, board members at the May meeting approved an immediate inspection and a 30-day probationary period for the restaurant to make significant improvements as well as create standard operating guidelines for workers.

Neither Meyer nor Phlipot could be reached for comment by press time.

In other business, community outreach coordinator Caitlin Decker gave a short presentation on the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program.

The program was created to reduce the burden of tobacco on the pregnant and postpartum population. The health department received a reimbursement grant for the program from the Ohio Department of Health in July.

Women who enroll in the program and stay tobacco free after their baby is born can receive a monthly voucher for free diapers for up to 12 months, which Decker said can can be a $350 value.

Decker said three moms are enrolled in the program and more are welcome to join.

In addition, medical director Dr. Juan Torres spoke about the season of sharing and how people can avoid sharing five common seasonal illnesses this time of year.

The common cold, the flu, bronchiolitis, strep throat and norovirus, also known as the winter stomach bug, are the most common diseases this time of year.

Torres said good hygiene, such as hand washing, coughing into a tissue and avoiding contact with other people when contagious are vital to preventing the spread of disease. People should also make sure to eat a healthy and nutritious diet, drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration and exercise regularly, he said.

Board members also met in executive session for 20-25 minutes to discuss compensation. After the session, board members approved a 2.5% raise for all employees effective Jan. 1.

Board members also,

• approved a transitional work entity for Don Jump allowing him to work from home on a temporary basis, not to exceed 20 hours per week and submitting work documentation to the health commissioner.

• hired Polly Downing as a public health nurse at $19.75 per hour beginning Jan. 9.