County Board Rescinds Increases In Health Department License Fees

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   An increase in certain health licensing fees approved by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors in June has been temporarily rescinded.
   The board approved reducing the fees back to previous levels for fiscal year 2009-10, and rebating the difference to business which have already paid the fees, during a meeting on July 14.
   Changes in the fees mainly affect food service businesses, including restaurants, caterers and mobile food vendors. Other types of businesses affected include septic haulers, hotels and motels, trailer parks and campgrounds, and swimming pools.
   The increases implemented in June were intended to cover the cost of inspection of businesses by the health department.
   Supervisor Jerry Brownlow explained that he had received a large number of calls regarding the increased fees and their negative impact on local businesses.
   “As a board, we don’t get it right all the time,” he remarked. “I got a lot of calls. It’s impacting their business, especially in this economy. Hopefully, this (temporarily reducing the fees) will help those establishments continue to stay in business and prosper.”
   Supervisor J.R DeSpain also supported immediately rescinding the fees, noting that the county potentially hurt not only the businesses, but also itself by making unexpected sharp increases to the fees in June.
   “It’s ironic that we blindsided ourselves on fees and didn’t realize the general public is going through an economic downturn,” he said. “I move that we approve this (temporarily rescinding the fees) and hope that this will cover up the hole we put our own foot in.”
   Reduction of the fees was approved unanimously as an emergency measure, meaning the reduction will take place immediately. It also passed as a temporary measure, however, and in fiscal year 2010-11, the fees will increase to the amounts approved by the board in June.
   While the cost of some permits or licenses will increase between $15 and $20, several will increase by $100 to $300. The annual cost for a restaurant permit for an establishment with one to 30 seats, for example, will increase from $75 to $200. The permit for a mobile food vendor will increase from $50 to $200, for a caterer from $75 to $300, and for a bar or lounge from $50 to $150.
   Fees for notices of violation will also be added, as well as fees for re-inspections. Establishments will pay $100 in case of a notice of violation and $100 for a reinspection.
   The board unanimously approved the temporary reduction of the fees, noting that the “implementation of the full fees would cause an undue hardship to area businesses during these difficult economic times.”