(a)
Appointment; term; qualifications; designation of police chief.
The city health official is hereby created. The office shall be filled by appointment of the mayor with the consent of the city council for an indefinite term. The health officer shall be qualified to carry out inspections for sanitary conditions and enforce the laws and ordinances in the field of public health. Therefore, the police chief of the city is hereby appointed as the city health officer.
(b)
Duties; interference.
(1)
The city health officer shall have the authority and power to enter and examine any place within the city for the purpose of making inspections and carrying out his duties. He shall perform the following duties:
(A)
Make inspections at any time and report all violations of the laws of the state and of this city pertaining to public health and sanitary conditions.
(B)
Enforce the laws and ordinances having the purpose of securing and assuring the public of sanitary food and drink, and in carrying out such duty he shall inspect all premises where food and drinks are sold.
(C)
Make the necessary inspections, enforcing ordinances and laws governing the slaughtering, sanitary display, and sale of meat and meat products.
(2)
If the city health officer, for the purpose of inspection, is denied access to any part of an establishment where food and drink are sold, that person will be in violation of this section and interfering with a police officer while in the performance of his duties.
(c)
Records.
A complete record of all inspections, complaints, orders issued, notices served, and nuisances abated by the city health officer shall be recorded.
(d)
Cooperation with state health officer.
The health officer of the city shall cooperate fully with the state health officer in all activities for health protection and conservation.
(e)
Enforcement authority; penalty.
The city health officer shall issue a citation under this section if it is determined that the transportation, storage, preparation, handling, displaying, serving, discarding, or disposal of food or drink has become unsanitary, in any way that might affect the public health. The city health officer has the authority to order the immediate cessation of operations until such violations are corrected and inspected. A violation under this section is [punishable by] a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(Ordinance 248 adopted 2/6/14; Ordinance adopting Code)