Salmonella Outbreak Helps Make Case for Ledge Light

Last year, citing escalating costs, members of the Ledyard Town Council took a hard look at dropping out of the Ledyard Light Health District in favor of a more affordable start-up organization. The exercise contributed to the health district reducing its per resident cost by nearly 10 percent for the year. 

The discussion was never officially closed, however, and on Wednesday members of the health district gave a presentation to the council that seemed intent on reassuring the town that it was getting its money’s worth.

Ledge Light epidemiologist Russ Melmed presented a harrowing tale of a recent salmonella outbreak that resulted in at least two people being hospitalized. After some nifty detective work, Ledge Light was able to trace the source to a local restaurant.

Melmed said state law prevented him from naming the restaurant, but he said all but one of its employees tested positive for salmonella. He said the restaurant was closed for 16 days, during which every surface that came in contact with food was disinfected.

He said employees were not allowed to return to work until they had produced two negative salmonella tests. Some workers were not able to return for weeks after the restaurant reopened.

The chilling part of the story was that food samples found to contain salmonella were to have been served to the public in the days and weeks ahead. Thus, by taking decisive action, Ledge Light was able to contain an active and growing public health emergency before things got any worse.

This action was a far cry from the bare bones, “inspect restaurants and septic systems” activity with which the health district is normally associated.

And there was more. Ledge Light’s Steve Mansfield described the district’s role in establishing a water and food distribution in Ledyard in the wake of tropical storm Irene. And Ledge Light Director Baker Salisbury spoke of preparations the district makes for a potential anthrax attack.

Salisbury said the anthrax preparations are required and paid for by the federal government. “This is most particularly a concern for our area. With a U.S. submarine base and two giant casinos, you have a target,” he said.

“I emphasize this because I hope you can look beyond bare bones, to real expertise,” Salisbury said.

Councilor Jim Diaz said he appreciated the professionalism and competence of Ledge Light. “We budget around $110,000 a year for this service, and I for one think it’s a bargain.”

Pressed for a preview on the district’s anticipated costs for 2012, Salisbury said he is hoping to hold the line. “It will be my inent to have a zero percent increase,” he said.

In other business

• Councilor David Holdridge reported that the Groton City Council will host the Tri-Trail Committee at its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Groton City Hall. The Groton council had previously declined to meet with the committee.

• Diaz reported that Ledyard is “aggressively pursuing” high school students from Wheeler High School in North Stonington in the event the neighboring town elects not to replace the aging high school with a new one. Offers also have been extended by Norwich Free Academy and Montville High School. Stonington has said it will not accept Wheeler students, and Fitch High School is still studying the question.

• Councilors noted that the intersection at Route 117 and 214 is especially hazardous now that the lines have been milled off the road as part of the current road improvement project. Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. was asked about placing cones at the intersection, and he said he would call Public Works Director Steve Masalin about it in the morning.