Davis to post inspections online

FARMINGTON — Beginning in early 2007, the public will have online access to health-inspection reports for Davis County restaurants and other establishments.

The Davis County Board of Health voted unanimously Tuesday to allow inspection reports to be posted online in the form of a searchable database.

Residents will be able to search by the business name, type and city and find the most recent inspection report. The health board convened a special task force in May to look at the ramifications of posting restaurant inspection reports online. Now that the board has given its approval, Davis County Health Department director Lewis Garrett said, the department will also post inspections for public swimming pools, day-care facilities, body-art studios and schools, as well.

Unlike similar Web sites used in other states, Davis County's reports will not grade or rate facilities. Instead, residents will be able to see the actual report filed by the inspector.

"The safety of food preparation depends on the commitment of management," Garrett said.

The reports are public information, but currently, anyone who desires to see them must either go to the county's Division of Environmental Health or call during business hours.

Garrett said he struggled with the pros and cons of making the information more accessible.

"The tipping point for me is that we're doing this for the public," he said.

Garrett said his department is testing database software that will automatically update the department's Web site with the latest reports as soon as inspectors submit them. In return for testing the software, the department will get to use it for free.

As reports accumulate in the county's database, residents will be able to search a restaurant's history from 2007 onward. The county does not plan to put previous years' reports in the database.

Davis County restaurant owners and managers had mixed reactions Tuesday to the county's plan.

Brian Larson, manager of Mimi's Cafe in Layton, said the online reports will make it easy for people to see that his restaurant is clean.

But Artoosh Hasratian, owner of El Matador in Bountiful, disagreed with the county's decision.

"I think it's an unethical thing to do, even though I have an immaculate kitchen," he said. "I don't worry about it. I feel sorry for others."

Hasratian said restaurateurs with older buildings might be less likely to get passing marks from inspectors. He believes that the health department should write a letter to owners before posting the reports online, "so people who have a problem could clean up their act," he said.

Ron Garrison, health board chairman, said posting the inspection reports will help keep the food in Davis County sanitary.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com