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Public hearings were held by the Warsaw Board of Public Works Friday to discuss ordinance violations fdisovered inside local massage establishments.
A total of four businesses came before the board to address illegal activities found during inspections conducted in October by Warsaw Police Department detectives.
The violations, which traditionally would be settled through a Warsaw Code Enforcement hearing, were evaluated through the Board of Public Works because of requirements in a massage establishment ordinance passed by the city council in July.
Representatives from Comfort Zone, Dating Dynamics, VIP Lounge and Dee's International House of Massage were individually addressed during Friday's hearing by city lawyer Mike Valentine.
Valentine, using the city massage ordinance and inspection reports from WPD detectives, presented citations for each business. Though no penalties were decided during the meeting, three out of four companies will be given penalties during next week's board meeting, scheduled for Dec. 16.
According to the ordinance, fees could range anywhere from $200 to $2,500 per charge.
Cathy Campagnari, of Comfort Zone, had no objections to four violations reported in a city inspection, consisting of employees working without permits, inconsistent pricing, improper outlets and misuse of locks inside the building.
Campagnari said improvements to correct the problems were made to her business the day after inspection.
The council then called for a recess and later reconvened to discuss six citations involving Dating Dynamics.
Valentine again used evidence from October inspections to address reports of a employee working without a permit, an extension cord violation, lock misuse and three counts of running a business without available hot water.
Attorney Elaine Smith and Jeannette Fairchild represented the company and objected to the violation of an employee working without a permit. Evidence was withdrawn by Valentine after the defense stated paperwork for an inspection was improperly signed.
According to Fairchild, Kelly Phelps, who was observed by police Oct. 12 to be working illegally for the company, was reported by Fairchild to have not been paid for services rendered the day of the inspection.
Smith said Phelps was a friend of Fairchild's, and that Phelps' presence at Dating Dynamics should not lead the board to assume she was an employee at the time.
Fairchild said Phelps was on the premises so that another employee wouldn't be alone during business hours.
"(Phelps) was standing inside the business during our investigation and was still there when we were finished," Detective Tony Faucett said. "It was my understanding that anyone not affiliated with the business would leave during police business."
Faucett also reported Phelps applied for a massage permit following the date of the inspection.
The public hearing for VIP Lounge was delayed indefinitely after deliberation was made between the city and representing attorney Robert Wright.
Wright, accompanied by owner Song McCly, objected to the current citations and urged the city to clear up matters in a timely fashion.
Wright said the VIP Lounge has been in a "catch-22" during the two months under the citations, which forced the business to shut down operations.The business cannot re-open until an application is approved, and that can't take place until the citations are resolved.
"I think it's in the best interest of the city to deal with the permit application," Valentine said.. "We've officially shut down a business, if we carry this on, it will cause problems to both Song and the city."
The board approved a motion to allow an application from the business to be submitted and be subject to a background investigation.
A decision regarding the VIP's penalties will be voted upon pending the outcome of the application.
"We're making sure we have proper citations for the situation," Valentine said.
Board members are Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith.
end
Health Board Hears TB Update
By Teresa Smith, Times-Union staff writer
BY TERESA SMITH
Times-Union Staff Writer
Health officer Dr. William Remington discussed the outbreak of tuberculosis in the county during the quarterly health department meeting Wednesday.
Officials from the federal Center for Disease Control and the state health department were summoned to Kosciusko County to assist with the 10 active TB cases, identify and contact these individuals, to conduct mass testing and provide relief to the local staff.
Remington said the CDC emphasis is on case management. As of Dec. 7 the CDC and state officials identified 734 contacts of the 10 people with active TB.
There were 83 people who reacted positively to the tuberculosis skin test. Remington was quick to emphasize that "No one is coughing out TB to people in their households. There is no immediate risk of infection to the community."
The number of active cases has not increased.
"The CDC is bringing fresh eyes to this and making sure everything is adequately done."
Remington said some of the active TB cases are regular alcohol drinkers and that is a problem for many reasons.
"Alcoholics over the age of 35 don't necessarily show up for appointments. We're treating them with drugs (INH) potentially toxic to the liver. Pessimism and resistance has been an issue with some of the clients."
Because of the outbreak, the state is providing $15,000 to the county off-setting costs for chest x-rays and other procedures. Somewhat discounted rates have been negotiated with Kosciusko Community Hospital.
A registered nurse and another staff member will eventually be hired by the health department to provide therapy for the active TB cases.
These individuals will initially be hired by KCH with salaries paid by the state for six months. The CDC will pay for their employment for a year, when state funding ends. The county, Remington said, will then pay for the two full-time employees.
The state, through the American Lung Association, is providing $5,000 in incentive money, to encourage people to be tested. The incentives will come in the form of gift cards.
"We need another county health care nurse and not just for the TB cases. We've asked Debbie [Frank] to do all the regular work and run thousands of people through the immunization clinic."
The TB genotype is specific to the Syracuse-North Webster-Leesburg area, Remington said, although a similar was found a few cases in southern Indiana, Kentucky and Florida.
The outbreak in Allen County last year was caused by a different virus.
Remington is sending a letter to area health care providers emphasizing the need to reach people with positive TB results.
He said the positive TB demographic is heavy alcohol users, who rotate in and out of bars.
"If 100 people are exposed, 10 will react positively, within two years five of the 10 will get sick. You must take INH for nine months if you have active TB and you can't drink while you're taking INH.
"I'm going to become very active with fellow physicians about getting people on INH."
The board also:
• Heard Dr. Wymond Wilson resigned from the board, which leaves a vacancy Remington would like to fill with another physician. Remington said he would approach a few people about serving on the board. Anyone can submit their name to the county commissioners for consideration.
• Dennis Woodward was elected as chairman.
Kosciusko County Health Board members are Karen Boling, Dennis Woodward, John Jones, Thomas Howard and Joan Darr. The next meeting is March 15 at 7 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
