Restaurants in Russell & Adair counties have recently been contacted by someone posing as a Health Inspector, wanting payment from the restaurants.
According to Lake Cumberland District Health Department Health Director Stewart Spillman, one restaurant in each county has had someone come in claiming to be a heath inspector. The person said they would be coming back, and that the restaurant would have to make a payment to them. Spillman said that if official L.C. District Health Dept. restaurant inspectors come by, they would identify themselves and have an I.D. badge (issued from the health dept.) with a phone number on it in order for restaurant employees to call and verify that the person is actually a Health Inspector. Spillman says the health department usually never asks for payment on-site. The only instance where inspectors may accept payment is if the restaurant had not paid their permit fee and wanted to make the payment to the Health Inspector, but he says that rarely ever happens.
Restaurants are urged to report any suspicious incidents to the Lake Cumberland District Health Dept., or to local authorities.