New, changed fees okayed by Cobb

Environmental health fees were approved on Dec. 16 by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.

To become effective on Jan. 1, the fees - two new and two changed - are:

• New: inspections of pop-up food-service establishments with a Vendor Assessment Fee of $135 and a Site Assessment Fee of $135.
• New: a Mobile Food Unit Base of Operations Assessment Fee of $95 for existing restaurants that wish to add a mobile food unit.
• Changed: a voluntary service, Owner Requested Inspection is when a compliant restaurant requests an inspection in hopes of improving a passing score. This fee is two-thirds the cost of the restaurant's Annual Inspection Fee.
• Changed: Body Art Exam Fee - required for all licensed body artists - is $50 to align with other Department of Public Health exam fees such as the septic contractor exam and septic pumper exam charged by the Cobb Board of Health.

While the Cobb Board of Health is separate and distinct from the Cobb Board of Commissioners, Cobb County Manager Rob Hosack said state law mandates that any environmental health services fee schedule - used by the Board of Health - must be approved by the county governing authority.

The Center for Environmental Health is the unit of the Board of Health that is responsible for regulating and inspecting a variety of activities and facilities, including tourist accommodations, swimming pools, on-site sewage management systems, food-service establishments, private water systems and body art.

The Board of Health also is authorized by state law to charge fees associated with the issuance of permits and inspections to defray the costs of such activities.