ELKDALE ã The Cattaraugus County Health Department will enforce
the Clean Indoor Air Act that goes into effect July 24, but will
not use undercover agents.
Public Health Director Barbara J. Hastings told members of the
Board of Health Wednesday the departmentÞs Environmental Health
Unit will track complaints and ßsend someone outà to investigate if
the complaints appear to be valid.
ßWe wonÞt be sending people out undercover,à she told board
members. Existing staff will handle the complaints, she added.
ßWeÞre expecting voluntary compliance.à
The State Legislature earlier this year approved a ban on
smoking indoors in all public places, including restaurants, bars
and clubs. It has sparked protests from tavern and restaurant
owners who fear a loss of business over the ban.
Mrs. Hastings said food inspectors will be on the lookout for
evidence of smoking when they conduct periodic inspections of
establishments serving food.
Environmental Health Director Eric Wohlers said the department
will soon send out an informational packet on the Clean Indoor Act
to establishments throughout the county. The businesses have not
received any notification yet from the state, he explained.
Next Monday, the Health Department will participate in a meeting
with the Cattaraugus County Tobacco Control Coalition at the John
Ash Community Center in Olean. It will consist mostly of a
question-and-answer session.
ßIt will not be used as a forum to debate the law,à Mr. Wohlers
emphasized. A similar meeting is planned for Tuesday at
Ellicottville Central School.
Businesses throughout the county have been notified of the
meetings.
IN OTHER MATTERS:
n The board heard Director of Patient Services Susan Andrews
explain the Health Department is still looking for temporary
replacement office space for the Machias office that is located in
the Stone House at the county Nursing Home. Five public health
nurses and two environmental health employees are located
there.
n Mr. Wohlers said there were currently no plans to spray
insecticide to control mosquitoes because the numbers of insects
being found in traps do not justify spraying at this time. Earlier
aerial spraying of larvicide to control mosquito larvae and cool
weather combined to keep mosquiotoes in check.
n The board learned that no cases of birds with West Nile virus
have been detected in the county by the state Health Department
laboratory. Sixteen birds ã mostly crows ã have been sent in for
testing.
n The board heard plans for expanded testing of wells in the
Machias area where high levels of nitrites have led to an adivisory
that infants not drink the water from municipal wells.
n Mrs. Hastings said that with more than a dozen department
employees vaccinated against smallpox, ßWe are ready if anything
should happen. We can respond.à
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