Hygiene practices faulted

A Henry County health official said employees and management at Traxx Lounge & Grill did not have good hygiene practices when working with food during a recent inspection.

An employee was observed touching face and hair, then proceeding to touch produce and other foods as well as clean equipment without washing hands. In another incident, an employee was handling maintenance equipment then handling beverage bottles without washing hands.

Points were also taken off because an employee was prepping lemons with her bare hands. The hand-washing sink was being used to wash produce, the inspector observed.

Traxx Lounge & Grill, 716 Highway 155 , McDonough, failed the routine inspection with 47/U. Its previous score was 91/A.

The inspector said the restaurant needs a written employee health policy, and employees need to know what symptoms and illnesses could affect food safety.

In other code violations, two containers of salsa were about three weeks past their expiration dates and should have been discarded.

Other food items were missing discard dates. Some sliced American cheese, cut tomatoes, cooked wings and other items in a cooler, and milk in a bar cooler all needed to be date marked, the inspector said.

Traxx Lounge & Grill will be re-inspected.

In early February, we told you about a nonworking light causing one reader fits.

“I now travel from Linden Avenue to the 85/75 connector going North (ultimately to 85 North). I have yet to see the lights that control the traffic entering the connector working. Everyone just jams up to the end of the merge lane, slowing down traffic immensely,” the reader asked. We sent the item to the DOT and got a response.

“We received your inquiry concerning the traffic situation on 75/85 Northbound in the afternoons, and the suggestion to use the traffic lights (ramp meters) on the entrance ramp from Spring Street. In managing the operations of the ramp meter system, GDOT has to balance both the condition of the interstate and surface streets in making the determination to turn any particular ramp meter on or off.

“It is the intent of the Department to only utilize ramp meters when the net benefit to everyone is positive. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of traffic entering the interstate at this ramp, turning the ramp meter on in the afternoons has been shown to be very detrimental to Midtown traffic.

“Due to these observations we only activate this particular meter very early in the after- noon, typically 1-2 p.m., very late in the evening, typically 6:45-7:15 p.m., but not during the p.m. peak hours. While activating ramp meters during the peak hours helps the progression of traffic on the interstate, the impact on the surface streets in this area is too great,” said B. Annalysee Baker-Wilson, who works as a communications specialist for DOT. Days on list: 20 Who’s looking into it: DOT Communication Specialist B. Annalysee Baker-Wilson, BaWilson@dot.ga.gov

George White wants some help now.

“This sinkhole behind our condominium near West Bolling and Rumson Way has been getting worse for months. Although my contacts at the city say it will be repaired, it has not. As you can see from the attached pictures, they put a metal cover on it that barely covers half the hole. Huge garbage trucks use this alley every week to pick up dumpsters at the neighboring apartments, and cars use this alley frequently every day. A person or animal could easily fall into this hole, and, if it gets any bigger, a car could fall in. The hole is beginning to undermine the Second Ponce De Leon driveway next door,” he wrote.

We sent the issue to the city and will let you know how it turns out. Days on list: 6 Who’s looking into it: City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza, 404-330-6240, rmendoza@atlantaga.gov

Hymie Shemaria sees a potential for a problem.

“We have a hole that is reopening up AGAIN on our street, Arbor Vista, in Atlanta, and it is at the end of our driveway where we turn to go up the street and almost fall into it.

“It is getting larger every day. They came out a while ago and sort of fixed it, more like a Band-Aid and now it is opening again. Cars are going to soon hit it and it can damage a car eventually,” he wrote. Days on list: 6 Who’s looking into it: City of Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza, 404-330-6240, rmendoza@atlantaga.gov