Board adopts incremental environmental health fee changes; ordinance to take effect Sept. 1

Doug Baird, an environmental health specialist, described the proposed updates to environmental health fees as incremental and said most changes were minor compared with inflation. Baird said the last fee update was three years ago and that the board’s local health board had reviewed and approved the changes. "We're raising the fees just incrementally," Baird said, and noted that certain previously uncharged services—such as inspections for tattooing and microblading—will now incur fees to cover inspection costs.

Staff discussed publication timing and legal publication requirements, recommending the ordinance be placed in the newspaper by July 30 so the 30-day waiting period yields an effective date of Sept. 1. Commissioners moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-007 with an effective date of Sept. 1; the motion passed by unanimous vote.