Other health departments cover several counties from a single office. That means a person might have to drive to a neighboring town to get the report, or make a long-distance phone call. For example, one person inspects restaurants in three southern Colorado counties Las Animas, Huerfano and Custer and files the inspection reports at his Trinidad office. The restaurant requests were made as part of a statewide survey by Colorado newspapers to determine whether government agencies are granting appropriate access to public documents. Records of the states twice-yearly inspections, which include sanitation and food preparation practices, are kept in Denver.
Charges vary across the state, and some counties give out reports free.
The record is usually provided in about a week, a state official said. But if you ask for an inspection report, you might have to answer a few questions yourself. The state Open Records Act doesnt require any reason be given when requesting a public document. For years, El Paso County, which conducts its own inspections for the Colorado Springs area, required residents to fill out a form stating their name, address, the record requested and the reason for the request. The request forms were changed on Oct. 1, omitting the question about whythe person wanted the inspection report, said Lori Doane, the departments food program manager.