Cole County health officials propose higher inspection fees and ask commission to authorize ordinance drafting

Cole County health department staff asked the county commission on Dec. 16 to approve higher inspection and permitting fees for 2026 and to authorize the drafting of an ordinance that would let the county charge and collect those fees.

A health‑department representative presented a comparison chart showing Cole County’s current fees are lower than neighboring localities and proposed new annual inspection fees of $300 for high‑risk food establishments, $200 for medium and $100 for low. The proposal would make the first revisit after an inspection free and charge $100 for each additional reinspection, the presenter said. For on‑site sewage permits, the department proposed a $400 fee for a new system, $2,500 for a new lagoon with tank and $150 for repairs.

"We would like to raise our fees to the 2026 recommendations at the bottom of the chart," the health‑department representative said, noting the county still would be less expensive than some neighbors. The representative said the state allows counties to adopt ordinances enabling inspection fees and that the department lacks funding for the range of core public‑health work it performs under its participation agreement with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Commissioners asked staff to draft objective parameters for the risk tiers (for example, room counts or past inspection history) so businesses can know where they fall; one commissioner said a hybrid or tiered approach would be acceptable. The health representative said staff will draft an ordinance and return with recommended fee tables and enforcement language.

The request included two separate elements: (1) the immediate fee schedule proposed for 2026 and (2) authority to draft an ordinance to formalize inspection fees for lodging and other regulated facilities. Commissioners did not vote on an ordinance that day but directed staff to prepare the draft and work with the county attorney and affected stakeholders.

The health department also discussed that permitting on‑site sewage systems is time‑consuming and staff time justifies higher fees for some permit types. The department plans to notify affected establishments if the commission adopts the increases and said any reinspection charging would begin after an initial free revisit.

What’s next: Health staff will draft the ordinance language and a detailed fee schedule and return to the commission for consideration.