Environmental health staff report three new restaurants, ongoing lead investigations and two recent property investigations

Environmental health staff updated the Scotland County Board of Health on permitted food establishments, plan reviews and elevated blood‑lead investigations.

Staff said the county opened three restaurants in the period described in the packet: a Hispanic restaurant identified in the transcript as "Tiquiera El Rey de Concito" (spelling in packet), Bad Rabbit's in Food Lion North, and Adrian's Restaurant in the former Pizza Hut location. They reported closures including Golden Corral, Harvey's Soul Food on McCall Road, and Trades, Blades and Hoagies in a strip near the county line. Staff said three plan reviews were active: Stockton Goes Storm, the Burg 401 project in the old Bull House location, and another site moving into the old caves area.

On environmental health investigations, staff reported two lead investigations completed in the previous month. Staff said the state lowered the elevated blood‑lead reference value to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, which increased the number of investigations the department opened; the department works with regional state staff to conduct property inspections when children have consecutive elevated results and to follow up with families.

Staff also reported current staffing in environmental services: three registered environmental health specialists (one newly certified after passing the required exam), one intern in training and one part-time staff member focused on the county's on‑site program. The newly certified specialist had been an intern and passed the certification exam, the presenter said.

Board members asked clarifying questions about plan-review status and available inspection capacity; staff replied they have been coordinating with regional staff and with animal-shelter partners on related public‑health issues.