Watch VideoHealth department skipping restaurant inspections
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: KOAA
The El Paso County Health Department is skipping restaurant inspections, swimming pool inspections and other duties that are putting the public's health at direct risk. That information is from the health department itself, which says that its budget has been slashed so deeply that it can't do its job.
The issue of money is expected to be front and center at the department's annual meeting today. The county's population has been rising at the same time that its budget is shrinking.
Rosemary Bakes-Martin, El Paso County Public Health Administrator, said the department doesn't have the resources to keep the public safe, "With increased populations, more restaurants are opening up. We can't get out and do the inspections that we're supposed to do, even those that are mandated by state law, so we're seeing more people get sick from eating in some of our restaurants."
Pete Meersman, President of the Colorado Restaurant Association, disputes that claim, "This is outrageous. There is no evidence that more people are getting sick at El Paso County restaurants."
The meeting will be held from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at the Pikes Peak Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle in Colorado Springs.
