Washington Inn dealing with pest control, plumbing violations

CECIL — Two significant violations found during a Jan. 3 inspection of the Washington Inn Supper Club in Cecil were responsible for temporarily closing the restaurant down until those issues are addressed.

In all, the inspection by a field agent with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Bureau of Food and Recreational Businesses found 24 violations.

Most of those were minor and many were corrected while the agent was still on the premises making the inspection.

A review of other restaurants inspected on the DATCP web site shows that minor violations are not uncommon.

The violation in this case that has gotten the most attention — and has become a topic on social media — is a pest control problem.

According to the DATCP web site, “Cockroaches and cockroach feces were found in the basement near the dishwasher, in the back room near the soda box dispensing rack, in the open wall area and in the room near the meat cooler.”

There have been claims on social media that plates of food containing cockroaches were actually served at the restaurant, but there is nothing in the state’s findings as reported on its web site to indicate that.

The Leader reached out to the state for more information and was referred to DATCP’s public records office, which has asked that an open records request be submitted before answering any questions.

The Leader has submitted that open records request and has been told it could take up to 10 days to receive a response.

The DATCP web site lists its Jan. 3 review of the Washington Inn as a “routine inspection.”

However, Washington Inn owner Darwin Olsen confirmed Friday that the inspection was the result of a complaint made to DATCP.

“They got a complaint online that someone had seen a bug,” Olsen said.

Olsen said claims on social media that the cockroach was on a plate of food that was served to a customer are not true.

“It wasn’t on a plate,” he said. “It was over by the salad bar in the dining room.”

Olsen said he has had an exterminator on the premises once a month for the past year and a half, as required by state code.

“And all of a sudden a bug came out,” Olsen said. “It probably got ahead of her and she didn’t keep up with it.”

Olsen said he has since hired a new pest control company.

The incident that prompted the complaint to DATCP and the Jan. 3 inspection took place on Dec. 27, Olsen said, a night when he was not working at the restaurant.

“I’m not blaming anybody,” Olsen said. “I take 100% responsibility for this, 100% responsibility to take care of the problem.”

Olsen said he does not know how the cockroach got into the restaurant.

“It’s hard to say how they come in. I can’t pinpoint it,” he said.

DATCP listed two related pest control problems including a window in the basement sealed with duct tape and not fully closed, which could allow the entry of insects or rodents, and unnecessary items stored in the basement such as clothes, boxes, crates, personal items, buckets, PVC pipes, and other items that could provide a harbor for insects and rodents.

Olsen said both of those issues were easy fixes that have already been addressed.

“All the clutter has been cleaned out,” he said. “Everything is totally gutted out down there.”

DATCP lists the pest control problem as a repeat violation. During a January 2017 inspection, the last one done at the Washington Inn until this month, mouse droppings were found, according to the DATCP web site.

“Mouse droppings were found under the server station and on top of the 1st floor dishwasher. Several flies were found in the kitchen,” according to the 2017 report.

The state recommended that the restaurant inspect facilities for insects and rodents, remove all droppings and exterminate as needed.

Olsen said he removed the mouse droppings and never saw a rodent.

There was no re-inspection required. DATCP’s policy, according to its web site, is that all violations not requiring a re-inspection must be corrected by the next routine inspection.

The Jan. 3 inspection also uncovered two plumbing issues needing to be addressed before the Washington Inn can reopen.

According to the DATCP report, “the sump pump system is not hard plumbed and is discharging into the basement kitchen where food is processed” and “a direct connection exists between the sewage system and a drain from food prep sink.”

Neither of these issues were cited in DATCP’s 2017 inspection.

The Washington Inn was given instructions to repair the plumbing system to conform to the State Uniform Plumbing Code.

“Facility must provide the name and license number of the plumber, inspection report, and report of any repairs completed to the department before reopening. Referral will be made to the department of safety and professional services for follow up,” DATCP wrote in its report.

Also, DATCP wrote, Washington Inn must “design the sewage system in a manner that would preclude a direct connection between the sewage system and the drain from which food is placed.”

Olsen said the restaurant has already had a plumber on the premises who has begun addressing the problems.

The Washington Inn was initially given until the end of January to address its violations.

“It’s going to take us a little longer than that to do the stuff we’ve got to get done,” Olsen said.

Olsen said he was granted an extension until June 30, when it comes time to renew his license with the village, but, he said, he doesn’t expect the fixes to take that long.

“We only have two issues,” he said. “The water issue, which is getting a hard-plumbed pipe into the wall, and of course the bug issue, to get rid of that. Those are the only two things I need to open, but we are doing a lot of other things here, updating, remodeling.”

Olsen, who said he has been in the food service business for 38 years, purchased the Washington Inn in 1997.

“I never had an issue until this came about,” he said.

Olsen said he feels the state handled the situation fairly and had praise for DATCP field agent who conducted the inspection.

“She worked with us for about two hours and said there’s no problem we can’t fix,” Olsen said. “She helped us out in doing a lot of different things. She was honest and sincere with me about how to handle things. Very informative.”

Olsen also thanked his employees for their support during this situation.

“I thank all my help, all my employees for putting in their time.” Olsen said. “I’ve always had great help. I can’t say enough about them. They’re honest and hard-working. Unfortunate things happen, but we want to take care of business in the right way and move forward.”

Olsen said he does not believe it will be a problem regaining the trust of his customers.

“I have good, loyal clientele here,” he said. “They’ve been stopping in here and giving me advice and offering help.”

Olsen said he invites everyone to come back to the Washington Inn after it has addressed its violations and he thanked all of his past customers.

“I apologize for this,” he said. “I do take 100% of this on me and it’s a hard thing to go through but things happen. It will be taken care of.”