Local gadfly Ed Fox, in advocating a Nye County health department, told county commissioners a year ago about a pizza place in Pahrump where the woman making the pizza had long stringy hair and wasn't wearing a hair net or cap.

"How would you commissioners like to have hair in your pizza?" Fox asked.

While the push is on by some advocates for a county health department, Pahrump restaurants are still subject to unannounced visits by state inspectors who often find numerous violations to strict health codes.

Clark and Washoe counties, the two largest in Nevada, have health districts. Carson City just formed one.

In the meantime, Stan Marshall, chief of the Nevada Bureau of Health Protection Services, said 432 inspections were conducted on new and existing food establishments in Nye County during 2007. That's down from 501 during 2006.

Nye County had 339 permitted food establishments last year, 30 more than in 2006, he said. Another 113 temporary food permits were issued in 2007, an increase from 99 in 2006.

All new restaurants are subject to inspection. The state then inspects them occasionally, without notice. Violators are revisited on a follow-up inspection.

"To the best that we can, with the resources we've got, our interest is to get out to see facilities on an annual basis," Marshall said. "Now if complaints come in, more often than normal, we're going to do the best we can to take a permit complaint and respond to a complaint."

One inspector is assigned to western Clark County and southern Nye County, Marshall said. The bureau has requested more inspectors to keep up with the busy work load, he added.

"I'm hoping in six months we're going to have this handful of new positions filled to better serve our routine work, doing the inspection work for permits, dealing with complaint investigation," Marshall said.

A two-page form is checked off by inspectors. In a few cases restaurant owners in Pahrump have been told to correct violations or face suspension or revocation of the license.

A number of establishments were written up for issues like not having soap in the employee hand washers or for dirty soda spouts.

One inspection report in October 2007 noted cockroaches on the floor under a crate of onions in one Pahrump restaurant. A follow-up inspection noted a pest control company had sprayed the premises, but roaches were still found in tile boxes the next month. The restaurant was inspected twice in 2006 and three times in 2007.

Inspectors in 2005 threatened to order one restaurant to cease operation if the owners didn't obtain a permit for an outdoor barbecue. Some restaurant employees are asked to attend Serv Safe Essentials, a course offered through the National Restaurant Association.

Owners are required to demonstrate knowledge of proper food handling, safety, sanitation and all the provisions of Nevada Administrative Code 446.