Environmental Health INSPECTIONS The Environmental Health Division is responsible for a broad spectrum of public health issues ranging from food safety inspections, environmental health inspections for public schools, day cares, foster homes, public swimming pools, nursing homes as well as conducting community educational Environmental Health classes. Personnel include the Chief Health Inspector and one inspector. In 2012, 296 Annual Health permits were issued to generate $34,917.00 in revenue. Number of Inspections 9 9 7 27 27 18 Food Safety Temp Food Events Daycare Inspections 20 Foster Homes 391 Hotel/Motels/Lodges Public Schools Public Pools/Spas Public Playgrounds
FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS All food establishments are inspected at least twice a year to ensure food safety standards as set forth by the FDA and the Texas Food Establishment Rules. 391 Food Safety inspections were performed in 2012. Food establishments include restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, public school and nursing home cafeterias, food pantries, snack bars, concession stands, and mobile food vendors. Additional inspections occur when investigating a food service complaint. Public Pools & Spas City Health Inspectors conducted 27 inspections on all public pools & spas throughout the swim season including all hotel/ motel pools and spas, apartment complexes, fitness centers, and municipal pools. Health Inspectors confirm these facilities meet all local and state guidelines regarding water quality issues and overall general sanitation to ensure public safety. Daycare Center & Nursery Schools All day care centers, nursery schools, and the Head Start program are inspected biannually for minimum State Environmental Health standards and the requirements of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. In 2012, 9 Day care / Nursery School programs were inspected; Day care inspections include all classrooms, food prep areas, and playgrounds to ensure all facilities meet minimum standards.
Foster Home Inspections Environmental Health inspections are performed on Foster Homes within the city limits of Cleburne. These inspections are required prior to the placing of children in the homes or for adoption purposes. All facilities are inspected to ensure the safety guidelines set forth by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and the local CPS standards. In 2012, 7 Foster homes were approved. Public School Inspections In 2012, 27 public school inspections were performed. School inspections include all food service areas, classrooms, gymnasiums, playgrounds, tracks, tennis courts, locker rooms, and field houses to ensure all facilities meet State Environmental Health sanitation requirements. Hotel & Motel Inspections In 2012, the US experienced a rise in bed bug complaints. This year, Environmental Health implemented routine inspection of rooms at the 9 local hotels, motels and boarding lodges. Inspectors investigated 5 bed bug complaints reported at local hotels, motels, apartment complexes, and boarding lodges.
TRAINING & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS The Environmental Health Department also coordinates food safety classes for state required certifications for food managers and food handlers. Educational fairs are held annually to inform the public of food safety tips, water quality issues, and recycling efforts within the city. Nursing students from Keene Southwest Adventist College shadow our inspectors each Spring, learning the importance of environmental health inspections on preventing illnesses and diseases. The Environmental Health Department also coordinates community improvement and educational programs such as Keep Cleburne Beautiful, Christmas in Action, Buffalo Creek Clean Up, Graffiti abatement, and Recycling programs such as the Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste recycling events. KCB is also active with community beautification and cleanup projects. Buffalo Creek cleanup yielded over 4.8 tons of trash from our waterways, over 7 ½ creek miles. The Household hazardous waste collection event in May 2012, also assisted by the Cleburne Fire fighters, diverted over 16,000 lbs of hazardous materials from local residences. Approximately 2,255 lbs of this material was recycled. In November, an electronic recycling event was held diverting 13,807 of electronics from being disposed into landfills. KCB also sponsored many beautification areas including medians, right-of- ways, and graffiti abatement. Seasonal decorations (Fall & Christmas) in downtown Cleburne were done by KEEP CLEBURNE BEAUTIFUL members.
West Nile Virus became a state wide epidemic in 2012. Health Inspectors tackled the issue locally by promoting educational prevention information to its residences and businesses. They were encouraged to eliminate standing water on their properties and to protect themselves by wearing insect repellant containing DEET. Stagnate swimming pools also became an issue on foreclosed properties. Health inspectors coordinated efforts with the Waste Water Utilities Division and drained and cleaned 7 abandoned swimming pools. Heavy enforcement was levied against homeowners who neglected their own pools. Many of the water channels in the city were abated with mosquito larvicide. West Nile Virus The Christmas in Action (CIA) program is also coordinated by Environmental Health. Christmas in Action and over 300 community volunteers refurbished 7 homes in 2012 repairing electrical hazards, structural deterioration, and addressed accessibility issues; including the removal of junk and debris. An additional 24 emergency repair jobs were also addressed including gas leaks, fire damage repair, roofing & electrical hazards made throughout the year. Christmas in Action restores and revitalizes our older neighborhoods, and helps to assist our seniors to live in a safer home. Christmas in Action was award the Community Service Award by the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce for their service to the community.
Code Enforcement Code Enforcement is a part of Environmental Health and resolves violations to reduce neighborhood deterioration and ensure property values. Code Enforcement Officers proactively monitor neighborhoods to ensure compliance with local environmental health codes. Personnel include two code officers. Code officers responded to 2756 Health code violations ranging from high grass/weeds, junk accumulation, abandoned vehicles, deteriorated structures, stagnate pools, illegal dumping, and other unsanitary conditions. Over 8889 inspection trips were logged. The Code Enforcement department also manages the mowing contract for all abandoned tax and foreclosed properties. Currently 66 abandoned tax properties are mowed on a monthly basis by an outside contractor. Maintenance liens are filed on each property and are collected when the property is set for a Sheriff Tax Sale. In 2012, the City was forced to mow 48 properties going through foreclosure. Many of those properties were resold and maintenance liens were reimbursed to the city. Number of Complaints 95 Grass/ Weeds 33 42 126 587 1,095 Junk /Debris Junk Vehicles Food Complaints Deteriorated Structures Mowing of Tax lots 628 Zoning Violations Misc. Complaints
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPT. / CODE ENFORCEMENT YEAR END 2012 Complaints: Year Inspection Trips Year To Date To Date Appliances in yard 38 Building Standards Insp. 76 Brush / Trees 54 Certificate of Occupancy 8 Building & Stand. Cases 22 Code Enforcement Insp. 8268 City Property Maint. 587 Day Care Insp. 9 Day Care 0 Food Establishments Insp. 391
Deteriorated Fences 16 Foster Homes Insp. 7 Deteriorated Structures 4 Plan Reviews 22 Food Services 33 Public Schools Insp. 27 Graffiti 3 Public Pools Insp. 27 Grass / Weeds 1095 Specific Use Permits 34 HH Furniture 101 Temp Health Permits 20 Illegal Dumping 15 Junk Debris Misc. 393 Total Inspections 8889 Junk Vehicles 126 Junk Vehicle Demo. 0 Temp. Health Permits (20) $700.00 Miscellaneous 68 Annual Health Permits (296) $34,217.00 Pool Complaint 31 Public Schools 0 Sewers / Grease Traps 6 Signs 61 Unsanitary Conditions 41 View obstructions 24 Zoning 34 Total Complaints 2756 TOTAL PERMIT REVENUE $34,917.00