[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6458877,"mediaKeyId","5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a","parentId",5806462,"title","Board adopts updated food-code violation categories; digital reporting and public display discussed","audioSeconds",257,"startMs",1768000,"endMs",2025000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a&start=1768&end=2025","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a/thumbnail_1768000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6458877/Monroe-County/Indiana/Board-adopts-updated-food-code-violation-categories-digital-reporting-and-public-display-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458877-3d11f773bf91c6d6addabfb43bed49eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875923&Signature=SZUw9HbTP2S6~VH4ZCcerjwdItSuisZ5gDWp-NzgBCUq6I~0flpSdwPGgCazafPn8ILeiqOWEbAfQQ5MI09Yx-FANzXWxLBjp0NaxfueXpWxmYHw-I87ZmLlzj0Xnm9v1Dwdnuhovq7qnhtudH3IU7Z73Su~wWxca-1YtO2~eOlwlXFH~BJa4a6mo9ONmHul2moICkWoJEqQwdzmkrOQgSFXepBcLJ6MEDdarfmX3eYg-efrCV7cJ78zC6yb2eP3BrLuhVQNSyApY3Cr4flAnbNNOPsQS2ic~tfjNlINcbkyWczw9eSM1NlPcZ7CV6LNh~IHzbXjQ02cnCooDV2Otg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe County, IN","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Monroe County Board of Health voted to adopt amendments to county health code sections addressing food inspections and violations on Sept. 18.

Mike Azimka, director of environmental health at the county health department, told the board the changes align Monroe County’s chapter code with the updated Indiana State Administrative Food Code. \"So we're moving away from critical and not critical to, core priority foundation, and, priority,\" Azimka said. The county’s updated chapter code references were cited during the motion: amendments to Monroe County chapter code sections 3 40 1-2, 3 40 1-5, and 3 40 1-8.

Azimka said the department is also shifting from paper inspection reports to digital reporting; the new workflow will push inspection data into a GIS-based public display. Board members asked whether the public-facing display could be simplified for lay readers and suggested color-coding or grade-like signage. Azimka said the website and GIS feed are under construction and the department will work on usability improvements.

Board discussion covered the meaning of the new categories. Azimka gave examples: priority foundation violations concern foundational controls such as having a valid certified food manager; priority violations include more urgent items, such as potentially hazardous foods stored above ready-to-eat items. The board asked that the department make the public-facing output easy to navigate and suggested publishing a readable list or summary of inspection histories in addition to the GIS interface.

The motion to approve the code amendments was made and seconded during the meeting and passed on a voice vote.

The department plans to complete the digital transition and make the information more accessible to residents, and invited board members to review the public display once the GIS updates are live.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monroe County Board Of Health, September 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Monroe County’s Board of Health voted to adopt amendments to local food-inspection code sections, aligning local violation categories with the Indiana State Administrative Food Code and moving inspection reporting to digital systems.","taxTitle","Monroe County, Indiana","taxId",3534,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458882,"Utilities director: tank leaks have limited fluoride treatment; temporary fix, notification plan discussed",1251,338000,1589000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a&start=338&end=1589","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a/thumbnail_338000.jpg","/articles/6458882/Monroe-County/Indiana/Utilities-director-tank-leaks-have-limited-fluoride-treatment-temporary-fix-notification-plan-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458882-96acf1cd701574425c14ed4a2f7ecf9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875923&Signature=HuUWFGdwt36zE90h-E~C7Hw3VTfjgWO9k34Lsi64bIETafjE1ZSOAUZpSdF1dYNPfe1MnPNxR9TEYB8kQxMEzPjifLdDQ~AOys8RtqCwvKuJu-hTJJP2bSkCYY4FjX8xYjSVQVLsBLOtOsXW-0D0E0gNgcLW~RVtUzuts8rqN-hRUstS7-1rHhlb6MHbscZDkV9ekSloD-f2YCLLm3Q9S1za0L~zUJ2eDGMp~e81DM2xJNUmRBA6PGGc5Zdi5CHABKo2VXwfjfVlUra5ZcF~SwcCt3oVZpQI26oae1IWNmhmShKDAmh0tsVvWZXhedxyBvW0GZsnSvDHHARJ9eWGNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Catherine Zager, director of City of Bloomington Utilities, told the Monroe County Board of Health on Sept. 18 that leaks in the utility’s concentrated-fluoride storage have prevented the system from delivering the U.S. Public Health Service–recommended 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride since 2019.

The utility has two storage tanks for the hydrofluoric acid used in fluoridation. Zager said the larger “bulk tank” was relined in 2022 after leaks continued, and that temporary delivery systems tried since then posed safety risks to staff. \"Temporary delivery systems were tried, but they pose significant safety risks to staff. With the hydrofluoric acid, that is 1 of the most dangerous chemicals we have at our plant,\" Zager said.

Board members and staff discussed why the city had not earlier notified the health department, dentists or primary care providers. Sarah Reiterband, the county health officer, confirmed the utility restored reporting to the consumer confidence report for 2024 and 2025 but said fluoride was not included in the utility’s consumer report for two years before the current utilities director took office. \"It was not reported at all for 2 years before I became director. We put it back in our report because we thought it was the right thing to do,\" Reiterband said.

Zager said the utility is testing system components to decide whether additional relining of the 20-year-old tank will be effective and is exploring alternatives if relining is not feasible. \"Our goal is to have a safe, temporary, cost effective solution finished by the 2026 so that we can safely continue the use of fluoride,\" she said. Zager also said a larger capital improvement project to overhaul the chemical building is planned for 2027 and that work is included in a pending rate case that already passed the Utility Service Board and is under consideration at city council and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Board members pressed for clearer notifications to the health department and dental and primary care communities while the utility works on a solution. One board member recommended that the utility notify the health department when fluoride returns to target levels; Zager said she can implement internal notification processes and that a formal resolution from the board would create a documented expectation for future directors. \"I am happy to implement internal processes to make sure that happens. But I do think it would be nice to have a resolution, and I think that would be great to bring this board and our board together,\" Zager said.

Several clinicians on the board raised concerns about children who may have had lower fluoride exposure for several years and urged the health department to coordinate distribution of guidance to dentists, pediatricians and other primary-care providers about topical or prescription fluoride options. Reiterband and board members discussed drafting a short advisory the health department could send to local dental and pediatric practices; Reiterband offered to prepare wording for dissemination through professional contact lists.

The utility said it will continue reporting fluoride minimums, maximums and averages in the annual consumer confidence report and has committed to present that report at a regular Utility Service Board meeting to improve public understanding. The board encouraged its members to attend upcoming utility board meetings for additional briefings on the consumer confidence report and the chemical-building capital plan.

Next steps: the utility will continue component testing, pursue a monitored temporary system aimed for 2026, advance a 2027 capital project for a comprehensive rebuild and work with the health department on notification and outreach plans. The board discussed drafting a resolution to formalize notification expectations for future directors.

","Catherine Zager, director of City of Bloomington Utilities, told the Monroe County Board of Health that leaks in concentrated-fluoride storage have prevented the utility from consistently adding the recommended 0.7 mg/L of fluoride since 2019.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458872,"Board hears grant wins and budget cuts, faces staffing and funding shifts tied to residency rules and contract changes",583,2326000,2909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a&start=2326&end=2909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a/thumbnail_2326000.jpg","/articles/6458872/Monroe-County/Indiana/Board-hears-grant-wins-and-budget-cuts-faces-staffing-and-funding-shifts-tied-to-residency-rules-and-contract-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458872-1db86972bf33471218cf4f8c87eafebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875923&Signature=DqXF9kXP3~XUUY5wlQAZdv0-44l6uOavGhEzV8lGi-oY2UooMuH1NQrb1n6k1aT3JPXDJJ5~3ZnWlKHc7Nq95Oo0M9JTn7NkmUBfsg0~ezu0sICaQ7VzmUCQz5H3dQn2EX0yDBN29dUcLDpBo5VLf3tuN4dao7X4OGxd~5hIq8NTiP8L3IXB-HLW29V2gVYCnjgHb6Z~Mos79fHFu-wwDsUI2s~mI3SJFHjAG4B6~9iZZuWJrGAvBVAYlSvXhZxfE1RWeLBJ9kGjOKd0f8HZRWOi1YXwctj2mBehD6jEW2lPpTjkWQAM-Ui~QoVMuDxAeyrsioVESRqMqwQQ2BVueA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County health leaders briefed the Monroe County Board of Health on Sept. 18 about recent grants, budget changes and operational implications of state-level funding rules and contracting changes.

The board was told that three grants had been approved at the county level: approximately $20,000 for public-health emergency preparedness, about $70,000 in harm-reduction funding for a one-year term, and roughly $58,000 in additional disease-intervention funds. The disease-intervention funding increase brought total grant support for that program to about $300,000 and pays for four positions; the department said the fourth disease-intervention specialist position has been posted as a 35-hour PAT A position.

Board members discussed how legislative changes affect Health First Indiana–funded positions. The county reported that council action earlier this year moved many positions and contracts into the County Health Fund to comply with new rules that require funds to be used for Indiana residents lawfully present in the United States. At the Sept. 18 meeting staff said that, after recent county-council action, most of those positions had been moved back to Health First Indiana funding, but that two environmental food-inspector positions and an administrative assistant remained in the county health fund. The department said it will verify residency and lawful presence for recipients of services funded under Health First and adjust operations as needed.

As a result of the council’s actions and other adjustments, the department said the health fund request for 2026 fell from an originally proposed $1.5 million (after removing vaccine-reimbursement funds of about $783,000) to a revised county health fund budget of $653,913.

Board members raised a procedural and ethical concern about how to handle communicable-disease cases involving uninsured noncitizens. The health officer said the department has a legal duty to control communicable disease but that implementing the new residency-verification rules can create conflicts with that duty; the department is seeking legal guidance on a case-by-case basis and has notified county legal and legislative representatives.

Separately, the board discussed federal- and state-level COVID reimbursement funds that had been earmarked for a mobile van purchase to deliver services. County council requested a forensic review of those COVID-related funds, and the department said the council has set the line to $1 for now, effectively preventing expenditure pending review. County staff said the audit could take substantial time and, if conducted externally, could delay or indefinitely postpone use of the funds for the van. The department urged expedited clarification because the budget-adoption deadline is Oct. 14.

Board members also discussed contract changes with IU Health. Meeting remarks indicated that IU Health’s regional vice president, Denzel Ross, informed county staff that IU Health would no longer treat Monroe County differently from other Indiana counties and that the long-standing contract for vaccine services and some clinic support will not continue in the same form. Department leaders said they now must finalize plans to provide those mandated services within shortened time frames and that County Council involvement and support will be necessary.

The department said it had submitted a request to county council for one new public-health nurse position (to lead case investigations, vaccination clinic scheduling and school-liaison duties) and to reclassify two other positions to provide surge capacity. Board members were encouraged to attend upcoming council budget hearings to support staffing requests.

","The Monroe County Board of Health was briefed on Sept. 18 about three recently approved grants, a reduced county health-fund request for 2026, and operational impacts from state residency rules and contract changes with IU Health.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458867,"Votes at a glance: minutes approved; food-code amendments adopted; agreement declined",4213,0,4213000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a&start=0&end=4213","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5806462-c316279d45c96f888702eea8e7207c3a/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6458867/Monroe-County/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-approved-food-code-amendments-adopted-agreement-declined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458867-4c3fedc88ec7b7088224ae4d58f92b9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875923&Signature=MPekuJ7wf25DycgVhIclJSif8v2xkKNmkheYZkd1HeDvCbveO7RuM-cWj5TnniXND~DfZ3BwVkPpjitEqwwCovAjfXwxbqnddUWwk6-bjpF8Ejazww5s6e2Iuo~UqlTDBIzN9s8macxehm5aiNprO3aHOUQVmgkxA1-hioKoSyc8kZozolN~u2jpD75a8fY0St82kECoJ5aEsbp5uJfq25Muc-rj7dH~9T~X0pUYHVS5bBFu9IHerU361DU3T~VstFjA1zri5lxp4cNZerChgxagjzBBM2LJLkHixDnV~CV7TbLWdV7vqkLyTsJmlqKPTfJmWfxCErOJjFzq0Kw2PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe County Board of Health recorded several formal actions during its Sept. 18 meeting. All motions below were taken by voice vote; the transcript records that motions were seconded and that no opposed votes were recorded during the roll calls cited below.

1) Approval of previous meeting minutes
Motion: Approve the minutes of the previous meeting.
Outcome: Passed by voice vote. (Transcript: motion and second recorded; board chair called for \"Aye\" and none opposed.)

2) Adoption of food-code amendments
Motion: Adopt the amendments for the Monroe County chapter code sections 3 40 1-2, 3 40 1-5, and 3 40 1-8 to align with updated state food-code classifications and to reflect digital reporting.
Outcome: Approved by voice vote. The amendments change violation classifications to \"core,\" \"priority foundation\" and \"priority\" and update reporting to digital/GIS workflows.

3) Private-donation fund agreement (Ad Malliar Fund)
Motion: Do not sign the county agreement to accept or administer a private employee-donation fund tied to the health department.
Outcome: Board voted to decline signing the proposed agreement. Members said they preferred to retain the fund as a private, community-foundation–managed grant mechanism rather than add county-level approval and accounting requirements.

Notes: The transcript does not record detailed roll-call tallies by member name for the voice votes. Where specific ordinance or code identifiers were discussed (food-code sections listed above), those were recorded in the meeting conversation and are included here as reported by staff in the meeting.

","During its Sept. 18 meeting the Monroe County Board of Health approved minutes, adopted food-code amendments aligning local classifications with the state food code, and voted not to sign a proposed county agreement for a private employee-donation fund. Votes were by voice; roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts updated food-code violation categories; digital reporting and public display discussed

Utilities director: tank leaks have limited fluoride treatment; temporary fix, notification plan discussed

Board hears grant wins and budget cuts, faces staffing and funding shifts tied to residency rules and contract changes

Votes at a glance: minutes approved; food-code amendments adopted; agreement declined