Hall commissioners review Health Dept. fee hikes

GAINESVILLE - Hall County commissioners looked at a request to increase Health Department permit and inspection fees Monday morning.

Environmental Health County Manager Patricia Braswell told commissioners over the past four years department operating costs are up; new state regulations are causing more time spent on food service and land use inspections.

"We're striving to educate the restaurant owners and workers as we're doing inspections and it's taking a great deal more time to perform the inspections," Braswell said. "There are a lot of return visits and things of that nature, so we're asking for you to look at the fees the Board of Health has presented and possibly approve the increase."

The fee increases fall heaviest on food service and swimming pools; the proposed fee structure has the annual inspection fee going up from $175 to $250 for a 25-seat restaurant, and for a maximum 100-seat restaurant, from $350 to $450.

A swimming pool construction permit with inspection would not increase, but for a seasonal pool and spa it would be $250 and for a year round facility, $350.

Commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing on the fee increases at their Thursday regular session, and then vote on them.

FUEL SUMMIT

Commission Chairman Tom Oliver set a date for a "fuel summit" for suggestions on how to deal with the escalating cost of running the county's vehicles.

Oliver wants to hear from all department heads and county commissioners on how to conserve fuel without cutting down on county services.

"We want to see what kind of ideas are coming out," Oliver said. "A new supplier for diesel fuel and gasoline has been mentioned, there are just a lot of great ideas out there."

Oliver set the summit date for Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the courthouse annex.