Health Dept., owner responds to video of mice in restaurant - Howell County News

The Howell County Health Department was on the scene within hours after a video was posted on social media seemingly depicting mouse activity in the dining room of Colton's Steakhouse in West Plains. The video was posted at 4:14 p.m. on June 16. Inspector Justin Frazier arrived for inspection at 6:53 p.m.

According to the inspection report, he was there in response to the video complaint. The report notes that this location had a violation for the presence of mice in February as well. The February 24 inspection mentioned the presence of "live cockroaches" and "mouse droppings present throughout the establishment."

Upon reinspection in March, there was, "no sign of rodent issues."

During Friday night's inspection in response to the video, Inspector Frazier's report notes "evidence of rodents in dining and prep/storage areas with droppings located throughout."

The inspector did not observe any live rodents at the time of inspection. The establishment has remained open since the inspection. They were, however, directed to have pest control onsite within 24 hours for treatment of facility, as well as:
-sealing all food and paper goods to prevent contamination,
-cleaning or sanitize all food contact surfaces,
-cleaning all observed droppings, and
-sealing all outer openings and holes in the walls and closing the back door at all times.  

In an interview Monday, Inspector Frazier reiterated that he did not see a live mouse during his inspection. According to his report, he was in the restaurant for almost an hour.

"I went through every area and did not observe anything alive…That would change the whole narrative," Frazier said. "We would be looking at closure orders if that happened."

The owner of Colton's West Plains, Haley Mitchell, told Howell County News on Monday that attempts to have pest control on scene Friday or Saturday were unsuccessful, but services were scheduled for June 19.
"We've addressed the areas where droppings were found and filled the holes in the walls that the health inspector pointed out on Friday," Mitchell said.

Inspector Frazier confirmed that Mitchell has been in frequent contact about compliance measures over the weekend, including the delay in pest control services. He agrees they have been taking the Health Department directives seriously.
"We are extremely confident that we will pass the re-inspection as this is an isolated issue," Mitchell said Monday morning.

Jeremy Sullivan, owner of All Pest and Termite Services, LLC told Howell County News that prevention is key in rodent control issues in a commercial setting like a restaurant. Hot weather and dry conditions would not necessarily increase rodent activity because restaurants attract rodents "all the time." Preventative pest control is key, Sullivan said. All Pest has never performed services at Colton's West Plains and is offering their impartial professional opinion at the request of this outlet.

According to Inspector Frazier, Colton's West Plains was about due for their regular six-month inspection when the video complaint came in. Mitchell mentioned Monday that the establishment does use regular pest control services.

About the video, Mitchell said, "This is not an accurate or fair representation of the conditions of Colton's West Plains. In fact, we initiated an open door policy last year; if a guest wants to walk through our kitchen, we welcome it especially if it will ease their minds."

Moreover, Mitchell said she spoke to Tom Smith, who posted the video that has been shared over 1,800 on Facebook times. According to Mitchell, "Mr. Smith also stated that our restaurant is always clean and their favorite Colton's and that he and his family would be back."

Smith confirmed to the News this is an accurate summary of his conversation with the restaurant owner, and said he originally posted it as a joke for family and friends, but added, "…then I realized what a health hazard it was because the mice must be EVERYWHERE if they're that unafraid in the main dining area."

If the restaurant is found to be out of compliance by 9:00 a.m. June 20, "closure orders will ensue," reads the report. This reinspection will occur after press time. See the online edition at www.howellcountynews.com for a midweek update, and an update in the print edition will appear in the June 28 issue.

Update: Inspector Frazier began the promised reinspection on June 20 at 8:57 a.m. It reads, "Remediation actions have been taken as follows: West Plains Termite and Pest Control onsite June 19. Follow up treatment by pest control will occur weekly. Outer and inside openings have been sealed to prevent entrance of pest. While onsite, back door was observed to not have a proper seal, in need of repair to prevent possible entry of pest and rodents. [sic]"
The Health Department will conduct weekly compliance reviews through July to monitor the pest situation, and closure order proceedings will issue if Colton's fails to maintain compliance. Today, the restaurant reiterated in an online announcement, "the events from last weekend were an isolated incident."

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