Grayson County Health Department fee changes approved to align with state rule; food-establishment fees move to risk-based schedule

The Grayson County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 approved revisions to the Grayson County Health Department's environmental health fee schedule for food-establishment permits, shifting the local fee structure from an employee-count basis to a risk-based inspection fee aligned with the Texas Department of State Health Services schedule.

Jeff Willis, identified in the meeting as the department manager for the Grayson County Health Department, told the court the changes respond to "a senate bill" referenced in the discussion and to the state fee schedule. Willis said the county's current fees have not been increased since 02/2007 and that the proposed changes "move us as an environmental health division closer to cost recovery for what it takes to run the program and all the cost associated with the inspection division."

Officials said the county's proposed fees would not reach…