County Health director David Grossman is cutting a rat control position because of lack of funding. In the meantime, Grossman is pressing ahead with his state-unfunded enforcement of smoking in bars. "They aren't getting away with it," Grossman stated. Looks like Grossman's jihad against smokers is taking front seat to rat eradication.
3 smoke-ban complaints snuffed
Inspectors didn't interview bar officials; bad state advice faulted
By JULIE M. McKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Smoking ban fines of $100 each against three Toledo bars were dismissed yesterday because inspectors did not interview bar officials.
State officials had advised inspector not to do so if they felt confrontations could result.
Under Ohio's ban, inspectors from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department and elsewhere statewide must either interview establishment officials on-site or call them before issuing a fine.
Fines were dismissed against The Sportsman, 1025 Starr Ave.; Anchor Inn, 4950 Suder Ave., and Debi's Southwyck Lounge, 5345 Heatherdowns Blvd.
Health board member Theodore Rowen, a lawyer, said it was reprehensible that erroneous advice from state health officials prompted the dismissals.
Toledo-Lucas County Health Department inspectors found violations at each bar, which a hearing officer confirmed.
Also, board members learned the health department is cutting one of two rodent control positions July 1 because of lack of funding. The employee in that job will be transferred to an open spot elsewhere.
Toledo is receiving less federal Community Development Block Grant money, so it cut $53,000 from the health department that was used to help fund the position, Dr. Grossman said.
The health department gets rid of rats and other rodents in public places, such as alleys.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/NEWS32/805230...
The city is swarming with rats and other undesirable rodents, yet Grossman shirks his responsibility to provide a healthy rat-free environment for this city's citizens in order to persecute the hapless bars and their patrons who want to smoke. Grossman has an almost religious fixation about smoking, and he will spend any amount of money to uphold the smoking ban to the detriment of his other health department responsibilities. It is long past time for the county commissioners to dump this guy along with his personal agendas.
I pay a company to put out bait for rats and other rodents in this city and I resent Grossman making me pay to do a job that his department should be doing. It really pisses me off to read that he is removing people from that rat position so he can bust smokers.
My neighbor told me that her friend used to have Grossman as her doctor & couldn't stand the man - said he was arrogant, smug & acted like it was beneath him to have to deal with patients questions.
He does look as smug and arrogant as he truly is.