Panel will look into espresso stand requirements

After hearing from three angry espresso stand owners, Spokane County’s Board of Health voted Thursday to form a subcommittee to look at the requirement that the stands hook up to water and sewer.

The coffee huts may lose their food permits if they can’t afford to hook up to water and sewer service – or at least put in an underground storage tank for wastewater.

There are 214 espresso stands in the county and most are connected to water and sewer. A few are not required to hook up because they are considered mobile units.

The owners of 15 coffee huts are negotiating with the Spokane Regional Health District for waivers of the rule.

Enforcement started earlier this year during annual inspections by food inspectors.

For years, most of the stands had been classified as mobile units.

But recently many were reclassified by the health district as “limited restaurants” and those require building permits.

To get building permits, the stands need sewer and water hookups, or at least individual underground storage tanks for wastewater, said Dr. Kim Thorburn, the district’s chief executive.

Requirements vary across jurisdictional lines with several municipal building departments involved.

Carmen Roche, owner of Jo To Go in Rockford, told the board that food inspectors in the past had said her business would be exempt.

“They said, ‘These changes are coming, but don’t worry, it’s not going to affect you. You’re grandfathered in.’ “

Health district staff said they are working with the city of Rockford on a compromise for the Jo To Go coffee stand.

After the meeting, Roche said her business barely breaks even.

She now dumps her wastewater at a recreational vehicle dumping station.

Jim Branson, owner of the Time Out stand on 57th Avenue, said he hired an attorney to make sure he didn’t make a wrong move with the health district.

But once he hired an attorney, the health district would communicate with him only through its own attorney.

Several health board members pleaded for a way to cut through bureaucracy and make things simpler for business owners.

Board member and County Commissioner Kate McCaslin suggested a group come together and find a solution with help from the various building departments.

The idea got unanimous support.

The subcommittee will be asked to give the board several options by February.