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4 restaurants in civil penalty phase
Of the more than 3,000 restaurants in the Tri-County Health Department's jurisdiction, roughly 1 percent are in the civil penalty phase for non-compliance issues, including four Douglas County restaurants, said Bruce Wilson, director of environmental health for Tri-County.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Of the more than 3,000 restaurants in the Tri-County Health Department's jurisdiction, roughly 1 percent are in the civil penalty phase for non-compliance issues, including four Douglas County restaurants, said Bruce Wilson, director of environmental health for Tri-County.
The reasons the restaurants are facing civil penalties are for repeated violations that vary from food-related problems to structural problems.
The owners of Augustine Grill have a civil penalty hearing today, said Anne Linney, owner of the Castle Rock restaurant.
"It's building issues," Linney said. "We have a small kitchen and had our walk-in refrigerator and freezer outside the kitchen."
The Linneys have removed a waiting area and moved the appliances in there. They closed one of the upstairs dining areas and are using it for dry storage Linney said.
Had an addition been completed on the building by its owner, the Linneys said, they would have been able to comply with the health department's order.
When that was not done, the Linneys decided to convert the waiting area and a dining room.
"We are confident the hearing will go well," Linney said. "We are making every effort to comply. We've done everything within our means."
Restaurants have multiple chances to correct problems before they make it to the civil penalty phase, Wilson said.
The civil penalty phase can include fines that range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $1,000, or, ultimately, the loss of the restaurant's license, Wilson said.
Los Volcanes in Parker also is in the civil penalties phase. The owner also cited issues with the landlord.
"We had some problems with holes in the walls and cracks in the cement [porch]," said Hector Navaro, the owner.
Restaurants do not make to the civil penalty phase for minor problems, Wilson said.
"Cracked tiles are a non-critical problem," Wilson said. "Critical violations include food not kept at proper temperatures, which could lead to food-borne illness. The critical violations are a defining factor. If they are serious and repeated violations, the restaurant enters the civil penalty phase."
At its last follow-up inspection, Los Volcanes had eight critical items. Two were repeats and six were new, Wilson said.
Among those violations were a food handler who had an unprotected wound and indications of rodents, Wilson said.
Inspectors do not exist for the purpose of busting restaurants. They spend a lot of time educating restaurant owners, Wilson said.
"We are not in the business of putting people out of work," Wilson said. "We are in the business of protecting the public health."
The majority of restaurants are inspected once a year, Wilson said.
Restaurants that are cited for critical violations are reinspected, and if the violations are not corrected, the restaurant enters the civil penalty phase.
Steak Escape in Park Meadows Town Center also is on the civil penalty list. It is in the first hearing phase, said Donna Hite-Bynum, environmental health specialist for the health department.
"[During] its last inspection there were five critical violations," Hite-Bynum said.
A follow-up inspection was conducted two and a half weeks ago, said Brian Wingrove, general manager for the restaurant.
"The inspector assured me everything was OK," Wingrove said.
Wilson confirmed that was the case, but said the restaurant is not in the clear yet.
"We will need to see a sustained correction," Wilson said. "If the next inspection shows the corrections are sustained, [the restaurant] will be removed from the penalty phase."
The Rodizio Grill in Highlands Ranch also is in the civil penalty phase, Wilson said.
"They have paid two fines," Wilson said. "The next inspection found five criticals, but none was severe enough for a hearing."
Among the violations was not keeping food at its proper temperature at the salad bar, Hite-Bynum said.
The general manager for Rodizio Grill was not available for comment.
The reasons the restaurants are facing civil penalties are for repeated violations that vary from food-related problems to structural problems.
The owners of Augustine Grill have a civil penalty hearing today, said Anne Linney, owner of the Castle Rock restaurant.
"It's building issues," Linney said. "We have a small kitchen and had our walk-in refrigerator and freezer outside the kitchen."
The Linneys have removed a waiting area and moved the appliances in there. They closed one of the upstairs dining areas and are using it for dry storage Linney said.
Had an addition been completed on the building by its owner, the Linneys said, they would have been able to comply with the health department's order.
When that was not done, the Linneys decided to convert the waiting area and a dining room.
"We are confident the hearing will go well," Linney said. "We are making every effort to comply. We've done everything within our means."
Restaurants have multiple chances to correct problems before they make it to the civil penalty phase, Wilson said.
The civil penalty phase can include fines that range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $1,000, or, ultimately, the loss of the restaurant's license, Wilson said.
Los Volcanes in Parker also is in the civil penalties phase. The owner also cited issues with the landlord.
"We had some problems with holes in the walls and cracks in the cement [porch]," said Hector Navaro, the owner.
Restaurants do not make to the civil penalty phase for minor problems, Wilson said.
"Cracked tiles are a non-critical problem," Wilson said. "Critical violations include food not kept at proper temperatures, which could lead to food-borne illness. The critical violations are a defining factor. If they are serious and repeated violations, the restaurant enters the civil penalty phase."
At its last follow-up inspection, Los Volcanes had eight critical items. Two were repeats and six were new, Wilson said.
Among those violations were a food handler who had an unprotected wound and indications of rodents, Wilson said.
Inspectors do not exist for the purpose of busting restaurants. They spend a lot of time educating restaurant owners, Wilson said.
"We are not in the business of putting people out of work," Wilson said. "We are in the business of protecting the public health."
The majority of restaurants are inspected once a year, Wilson said.
Restaurants that are cited for critical violations are reinspected, and if the violations are not corrected, the restaurant enters the civil penalty phase.
Steak Escape in Park Meadows Town Center also is on the civil penalty list. It is in the first hearing phase, said Donna Hite-Bynum, environmental health specialist for the health department.
"[During] its last inspection there were five critical violations," Hite-Bynum said.
A follow-up inspection was conducted two and a half weeks ago, said Brian Wingrove, general manager for the restaurant.
"The inspector assured me everything was OK," Wingrove said.
Wilson confirmed that was the case, but said the restaurant is not in the clear yet.
"We will need to see a sustained correction," Wilson said. "If the next inspection shows the corrections are sustained, [the restaurant] will be removed from the penalty phase."
The Rodizio Grill in Highlands Ranch also is in the civil penalty phase, Wilson said.
"They have paid two fines," Wilson said. "The next inspection found five criticals, but none was severe enough for a hearing."
Among the violations was not keeping food at its proper temperature at the salad bar, Hite-Bynum said.
The general manager for Rodizio Grill was not available for comment.
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