Frequently Asked Questions

Listed on this page are a series of questions which are frequently asked in the Environmental Health Department of the St.Francois County Health Center

 Frequently Asked Questions by Category

 Food Establishments    

  1. Do I need a permit from the health department before I can open my restaurant?
 NO. St.Francois County dows not currently require the issuance of a permit from the health department.  However, a pre-opening inspection to review your facility is highly recommended.  You can avoid many unforeseen problems and expenses by contacting SFCHC before you open your restaurant.

2. Does SFCHC provide "ServSafe" food training for restaurant owners, managers, and employees? 
 Our EPHS staff have been certified by the National Restaurant Association so that we may offer these courses to the public.  Courses are in the planning stages.  As soon as we have a ServSafe schedule we will post it on our website bulletin board and education/training pages.

3. What kind of grading system is used for restaurants?  When they are inspected, do they receive an A,B,C or is it A, AA, AAA; what?
 St.Francois County Health Center does not currently give a alphabetic or numeric rating to a restaurant after it is inspected.  However, you should look for a blue and white placard with the St.Francois County Health Center logo on it posted somewhere within the facility.  This indicates that this restaurant is inspected by us.  If you do not see the placard, ask for it...

  On-Site Sewage Systems  

1. We just bought a 2 acre lot in St.Francois County.  We are going to build a new home there.  Do we need a permit for our septic system?
 YES.  A single family dwelling on less than 3 acres requires a septic system permit.

2. Where can I get a sewage system permit?
 All applications for sewage permits (on-site waste treatment systems) must be processed through the St.Francois County Health Center.  Call the Environmental Health Department at 573-431-1947 and press 5 at the prompt. 

3. What is the difference between a sewage permit and an sewage permit application?
 The on-site sewage waste treatment system (septic system) permit application must be completed before an on-site waste treatment system (septic system) permit can be issued to the land owner.

4. What is involved in completing an on-site waste treatment system application for permit?
 Completion of the permit application involves several steps.  In general it would involve:

a) Pick up an on-site waste treatment system permit application from SFCHC.
b) Submit a $90.00 application fee to the MO Department of Health & Senior Services.
c) A soil scientist would complete a soil morphology for your building site.
d) A determination is made, based upon the soil morphology, as to whether a conventional septic system or an engineered septic system is suitable for your building site.
e) Submit a set of building plans for your on-site waste treatment system to the SFCHC for review.
f) A pre-installation site vist to your construction site from SFCHC's Environmental Health Department and your installer to determine/record the layout for your septic system.
g) Issuance of a on-site waste treatment system permit.
h) An installer would install your on-site waste treatment system.
i) A final inspection of your on-site waste treatment system installation by the SFCHC's Environemental Health Department is conducted with your installer.

5.  A  utility truck drove over my drainfield during the last ice storm and broke one of my drainfield pipes.  Do I need a permit to repair my septic system?
 NO.  This would be considered a 'minor' repair.  An on-site sewage waste treatment system permit is not required for minor repairs to a septic system.

6. My neighbor's sewage system runs out into a ditch by the road.  Is that legal?
 NO.  All effluent generated from a private residence which is not on a county or city septic system, must be directed into a septic tank.

7.  Water from my cloths washer, bathroom shower and sink, and kitchen sink are all tied together.  They don't empty into my septic tank.  This water goes through a pipe and eventually empties into a field.  My neighbor told me that I can't do that.  Is he right? 
 YES.  All waste water, whether it is from a graywater source, such as cloth washer and kitchen sink, etc., or from a toilet must be directed into the septic tank.

8. Do I need a permit to install an on-site septic system? 
 A permit is required for the installation of an on-site septic system on any residential property less than three acres.

9. I am going to replace my old septic tank.  Do I need a sewage permit? 
 Yes.  This would be considered a major repair.  You would have to complete an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Construction Permit.  Refer to question 4, above, for an overview of the permit process.

10. My neighbors are moving a house trailer onto a 1/2 acre lot next to my property.  They said they were going to put a holding tank in the ground.  Can they do that? 
 NO.  Your neighbors are required by law to contact SFCHC and complete an On-site Waste Treatment System Construction Permit application. Refer to question number 4 (above) for an outline of the permit process.

11. My wife and I really like to sit on our back deck and watch the sun set, but the smell from my neighbor's septic tank is so bad that it is almost unbearable.  I have talked to my neighbor about fixing the septic tank, but he doesn't own the house; it's a rental.  What can I do?
 Call the St.Francois County Health Center's Environmental Health Department and file a complaint.  Since the occupants of the home are renting, you will need to supply the name of the land owner of record and the physical address (usually the mailing address) of the home.

 Child Care Facilities 

1. What is the difference between a child care facility and a day care facility? 
 In most instances, whenever someone is speaking about a "day care" they are probably referring to to a child care facility.

2. How do I know if the day care I choose for my daughter is inspected by the health department? 
 All day cares in St.Francois County are inspected annually by the SFCHC.

3. How often does the health department inspect a day care? 
 Day cares are inspected anually (once a year) by the St.Francois County Health Center.  Whenever a facility's license is to be renewed, an inspection of the facility is conducted?  Both licensed and license-exempt facilities are required to have regular fire, sanitation and health inspections. In addition, licensed facilities have additional compliance monitoring inspections each year.

4. What kind of rating does a day care receive after it is inspected?  I don't want to send my children to a day care with a low rating. 
 Day cares in Missouri do not receive a "rating" based upon their inspection by the local public health agency (St.Francois County Health Center).  If a child care facility is noted with any violations during an inspection, the violations must be corrected.  It is simply a matter of 100% compliance.

5. How do I know if my son's day care has passed it's inspection by the health department?
 If child day cares in Missouri do not meet 100% compliance, they do not receive their license.

 Lodging Establishments 

Many hotels offer a buffet or continental breakfast.  Are the kitchens of the hotel that provide the breakfast inspected by the health department or are they exempt because they are not classified as a "food establishment"? 
 If a hotel, motel or lodging facility,having 5 or more guest rooms, offers food to the public, it's kitchen, food prep, food storage, and food service areas will be inspected by the SFCHC.

My wife and I plan to stay at a Bed & Breakfast in St.Francois County for a get-away-weekend.  Are bed & breakfast establishments inspected by the local health department or does the State inspect them? 
SFCHC inspects all lodging establishments within St.Francois County, MO where five or more quest rooms are provided.  If the bed & breakfast you plan to stay at has four rooms or less, no.  If the bed & breakfast has five or more rooms, yes.

How often does a lodging establishment have to renew its license?
 The licensing year begins October 1st and ends September 30th.  Prior to license renewal, an inspection of the lodging facitlity must be completed.

 Environmental Issues and Complaints 

1. If I file a nuisance complaint, how long will it be before you investigate it?
 Complaints that involve only nuisance conditions involving public health issues will be investigated within fifteen (15) working days, provided environmental health staff are available.  If environmental health staff are unavailable , complaints will be investigated as expediently as possible.

2. I believe I have mold growing in my house/apartment/trailer.  Can the Health Department come out and take a sample and send it to the lab for analysis?
 No. The SFCHC cannot take mold samples and submit them to the State lab for analysis.  However, there are local businesses that do mold inspections.  You can locate these firms in the telephone book or on the internet.

3.  I have mold growing in our rental home.  I have contacted my landlord about the problem.  He refuses to do anything about it.  Can I file a complaint with the health department and make him clean up the mold?
 This is considered to be a "Landlord-Tenant" issue.  All "Landlord - Tenant" issues should be directed to the City administration or the County administration in which the home is located.  Many cities have ordances which address landlord-tenant issues such a living conditions.  As a tenant you may also contact the Missouri State Attorney General's Office and file a complaint.  The telephone number for the Missouri Attorney General Office is (573) 751-3321.  *To review the Landlord/Tenant Law on the internet, go to this web site: www.ago.mo.gov/publications/landlordtenant.pdf .

4. The house next to mine has water from the clothes washer running out into a ditch by the road.  It sometimes overflows into my fence row and is killing my Cedar trees.  Can they do that?  I thought the law changed and all that stuff had to go into a septic tank.
 Your neighbors cannot allow the waste water from their clothes washing machine (often called gray water) to flow out onto the ground.  Any effluent must be directed into their septic tank or septic system and maintained on their property.

5. I have several old thermometers which have mercury in them which no longer work.  Can I dispose of them in trash that is going to a land fill or must I dispose of them in some special way?
 It is highly recommended that any private citizen or not-for-profit agency having mercury-containing instruments, like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats or switches, at a collection event or a permanent collection site.  Go to the MO Department of Natural Resources at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/hhw/hhw.htm to find event locations and permanent collection sites.  For more information, contact the Solid Waste Management Program
at 573-751-5401.

6. I just purchased a home with a basement and I would like to have it tested for Radon.  Does St.Francois County Health Center do Radon tests?
 No.  SFCHC does not do Radon tests.  You can log on to the MO DHSS website and register to receive a short-term radon test kit.  These test kits are provided to Missouri residents at no cost. The website is: www.dhss.mo.gov/Radon.  You may call the Environmental Health Department at SFCHC at 431-1947 and request an informational package be mailed to your home or come into SFCHC and pick up an informational package.   For information concerning Radon and indoor air quality, you may also go to the EPA's website http://www.epa.gov/radon/. 

Food Complaints 

  1. After eating at restaurant 'x', I became ill the next day.  Should I report that to the health department? 
  Yes. If you believe you became ill from something that you ate at the restaurant, the health department will investigate it as long as you file a complaint with SFCHC.

2.  Do I have to give my name whenever I file a complaint against a restaurant?
 NO. You may remain anonymous.    However, if you do not give your name, SFCHC would not know who to inform of the results of our investigation.

3.  If I file a complaint at SFCHC, does my name remain confidential?  You know; sort of like a doctor/patient privilage?
 NO. If you give your name, it is part of the permanent file.  It is public record.  Someone wishing to view the complaint would have to come in to SFCHC and sign a request to view the complaint.  Your name does not appear on the section of the complaint form that the person or business you complain about would have access to during the course of the investigation.

4. Can I call the health department to find out what the results of my complaint are?
 NO.  We cannot give that type of information over the telephone.  You can come to the health department and sign a "request to view" form.  You may view the results of the complaint investigation at that time.

5. I'm not sure if I should call with this complaint or not. Will you follow up on my complaint? 
 If you file a complaint with the St.Francois County Health Department, it will be investigated.  Complaints submitted to this office that involve an imminent health hazard will be investigated upon receipt of the complaint.  Those complaints exhibiting a potential health hazard will be investigated within five (5) working days of receipt.

 Private Water Supplies & Wells  

1. Who do I contact to have my well water tested?
 Contact St.Francois County Health Center, Environmental Health Department at 431-1947, ext. 5 or you can contact a private laboratory.  Water samples must be submitted from a source that is used for human consumption and is a public health concern.

2. What do you test for whenever you test a water sample from a well?
 Typically, the water sample is tested for E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli) and the coliform group of bacteria.  When found in drinking water, E. coli indicates the water has been contaminated with human or animal wastes.

3. Can I bring in a water sample from my well to the health department and have it tested for bacteria?
 DO NOT bring well water samples into SFCHC in your own container.  Once you obtain a 'water sample kit' from SFCHC, you can take your own water sample from your well.  The 'kit' contains written directions (with diagrams) on how to obtain the water sample, where is the best place to draw the water sample from, an information/data page to be completed by the homeowner, a mailing label and the box to mail you water to the lab in.  You may drop off your water sample at SFCHC Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 am until 12:00 Noon.  A $10.00 fee is charged by the lab for the tests.  You do not pay the lab fee until you get your lab results for the tests.

Landlord-Tenant Issues

 Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law provides for the rights & responsibilities of landlords and tenants.  If you have questins regarding your rights as a tenant or as a landlord, you should contact the Office of Attorney General, Chris Koster.  P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102.  The telephone number for the Attorney General's Office is 573.751.3321.

A brochure concerning Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law is available in the Vital Records department of SFCHC.  You may find this and other brochures online @ www.ago.mo.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline: 800.392.8222.

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