Published: June 18, 2008 09:01 am         

Roach infestation closes center’s kitchen

Others step in to feed Crazy Water Retirement Hotel’s residents

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

MINERAL WELLS, Texas – A visit Monday from the City of Mineral Wells’ health inspector prompted the temporary closure of the Crazy Water Retirement Hotel’s kitchen with local restaurants stepping in to feed the residents.

Mineral Wells City Manager Lance Howerton explained the health inspector went to the facility Friday “and there was a severe problem with a roach infestation and she alerted the staff that something needed to be done that weekend.”

“We’d been there previously [on May 20] and gave them an opportunity to handle the roach problem,” said Donna Robbins, city health inspector. When she returned on Friday, she described seeing roaches mainly in the dishwashing area, in drains and under rubber floor mats.

“What really concerned us was there were many, many babies,” she explained. “We knew that eggs hatched. … It got out of hand really quickly.”

“She and city staff went up Monday morning and the problem was still evident and maybe even more than ever,” Howerton said.

He said they “felt the only thing to do was to terminate the food service.”

The facility’s owner, Charles Miller, was contacted as was the state, according to city officials. Robbins explained they notified the Adult Protective Services and the long-term care unit in Austin since the facility received its assisted living facility permit on May 15.

When a reporter went to the Crazy Water Retirement Hotel on Tuesday morning seeking comment o the health department’s action, a woman at the front desk said there was “no comment and we’d appreciate it if you would just leave.”

With the kitchen shut down, the residents were unable to eat at the hotel and funds apparently weren’t available to feed them outside of the facility. The city opted to step in and ensure the residents received meals.

Howerton explained they spoke to some of the local eateries about providing meals for approximately 62 senior citizens on short notice. Within a short time, Chicken Express was able to prepare box lunches on Monday with city staff picking up and distributing the meals.

“I have great praise for [Chicken Express co-owner] Nancy Stuart and her staff who worked with us on short notice,” he remarked. “They went out of their way.”

The Subway located inside Wal-Mart was able to prepare the 62 sandwiches needed for the evening meal within two hours, Robbins said.

Palo Pinto General Hospital already prepares meals for the local Meals on Wheels program and was approached by Howerton.

“Lance called [Monday] and I went and talked with our nutritional service staff,” PPGH Chief Executive Office Harris Brooks said. Though the hospital wasn’t able to help on Monday, they prepared Tuesday’s afternoon and evening meals.

“We already do Meals on Wheels and I asked them if they could put together another 62 meals,” Brooks remarked.

Even though the staff doesn’t normally cook a dinner meal, he said, “The crew in the kitchen said they’ve got to be fed.” He estimated the meals cost $4 per plate plus the overtime for the staff would total around $500.

“I’m just glad that we could do it,” he commented. “I’d hate to see people go without meals.”

“We commend him and his staff,” Howerton remarked. “[They] said, ‘no problem’ and were more than helpful. We express our appreciation for their prompt and timely response.”

According to Robbins, they allowed the Crazy Water Retirement Hotel to serve cereal, milk and juice for breakfast as the cereal was in tightly sealed bags. Someone brought in doughnuts for the residents, she added.

To residents who asked, the health inspector said they were told, “there were some adjustments being made to the kitchen. The city never told them the kitchen was infested. We didn’t want to upset them.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, a professional exterminator was spraying the facility, though that isn’t the only thing the center will need to do before the kitchen reopens.

Robbins explained the facility must be on a pest control maintenance schedule and clean and sanitize the kitchen – which means every outer covering, utensil and pan. Also, any food package that is open or not in an airtight container must be destroyed. The food in the walk-in freezers and refrigerators are still viable. Once the kitchen is cleaned, it will be re-inspected before it’s allowed to serve food to the residents.

“They will be watched very closely for the next several months,” Howerton remarked. “It’s our understanding [as of Tuesday morning], he [Miller] indicated they will make food available starting [today].”

As for who picks up the tab for the 248 meals purchased Monday and Tuesday, the city manager said, “We’ve informed Mr. Miller he will be billed for the food and we’ve incurred overtime [as city staff picked up and delivered the meals] he will be billed for.”

He added, “Unfortunately, we felt there was no alternative. We felt it was an extraordinary circumstance and we needed to take prompt action.”

According to TDADS, the facility is licensed for 117 residents. The Crazy Water Retirement Hotel’s Web site lists the facility as a Leisure Life Management property.

The Mineral Wells Index was unable to contact Miller on Tuesday.

The Crazy Water Retirement Hotel is a seven-story structure in downtown Mineral Wells that first opened in 1927, providing accommodations then for the many visitors to Mineral Wells during the city’s mineral water and spa and health resort heyday.

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