If your restaurant meal were delayed this long, you'd succumb to starvation first.

Allegheny County Council voted 12-1 on Tuesday against a proposed A-B-C rating system for restaurants that would provide consumers with an instant indication of an eatery's cleanliness. The county health department, which recommended the system, first raised the idea in 2010.

To put that time frame in perspective, consider:

• The United States took four years to endure the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, declare war on Japan, receive war declarations from Germany and its Axis allies, lead victorious Allied efforts in the Battle of Midway and the invasion of Normandy, drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and accept the Axis nations' unconditional surrender to end World War II.

• The county has taken five years to discuss and debate the merits of a simple restaurant grading system without implementing one.

For the foreseeable future, it appears unlikely diners will be able to quickly ascertain the likelihood of entering eateries and encountering roach or rodent dining companions.

Critics of the grading system contend it isn't necessary. They note that annual restaurant inspection records are accessible via the health department website.

But the website cautions that not all inspections are available online. It advises people to contact the health department's food division if an inspection report can't be located.

Presumably then, for a fee, the food division will ensure the report's delivery via Pony Express. The transaction's receipt will be sent via telegram.

Curiously, most people who favor 19th century techniques to access restaurant records seem to own restaurants. What are the odds of that?

Their chief complaint with the grading system seems to be that a poor grade posted outside their business would hurt said business. That's probably true. But if that possibility makes restaurateurs labor more diligently to ensure their places are clean, what's the downside?

When this tortuous effort first began five years ago, former Health Department Director Bruce Dixon offered a difficult-to-dispute opinion.

“If a restaurant can't do things the right way, I think people are entitled to know that,” he said. Restaurants “should aspire to maintain quality standards so people feel comfortable with where they eat.”

Dixon died in February 2013 without seeing the proposal come to a council vote.

Elected officials essentially serve as their constituents' wait staff. Their job is to efficiently bring to the table what the electorate has ordered: sound policies that are the governmental equivalent of jalapeno popper appetizers, at bare minimum.

On this issue, county council members have provided lousy service. But they still deserve a tip.

Here it is: You never should take longer to adopt a sensible public health policy than the United States took to secure victory in World War II.

Eric Heyl is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7857 or eheyl@tribweb.com.

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