SHELBY — The Shelby City Health Department has not increased Environmental Health Licensing fees for public swimming pools or body art studios since 2017.
Additionally, licensing fees for food establishments have not been raised since at least 2019, according to the city’s health department.
Proposed fee increases were brought to Shelby City Council and first read at its regular meeting Nov. 4. New fees for each respective category — food establishments, body art studios and public swimming pools — were proposed under seperate ordinances.
On Monday, city lawmakers unanimously approved the proposed new fees for public pools and body art studios. However, the ordinance regarding body art studios was amended to remove a proposed $150 fee for plan reviews.
City Council postponed its vote on proposed food establishment licensing fee increases until its next regular meeting on Dec. 16.
Fourth Ward Councilman Nathan Martin previously voiced concerns regarding proposed plan review application fees for food establishments.
Martin reminded council Monday that at its last meeting, city lawmakers discussed the possibility of a “tiered system” for plan review fees — based on the size of the project.
“I kind of wanted to open up the discussion around that before offering my own suggestions,” he said.
With a few questions of his own regarding the legislation, Third Ward Councilman Eric Cutlip motioned to postpone the vote in order to allow time for further conversation.
(Below is a chart made by the Shelby City Health Department reflecting existing local fees, proposed local fees, percent increase (or decrease in one instance), the maximum allowed fee based on the most recent cost analysis and Richland Public Health’s current fees for the same service. Credit: Shelby City Health Department Facebook page)
By the numbers
No local charges for body art studios will exceed a 20-percent increase. Licensing costs for tattooing services, body piercing services and combined body art services will rise $25 from $125 to $150.
Time limited approval for a specific event will also increase from $125 to $150.
The cost of a public swimming pool license will be raised slightly more than 14 percent from $175 to $200. Charges for public spas and special use pools will remain at $175.
In other action Monday, City Council:
— authorized an agreement with the Richland County Commissioners for the payment of legal counsel fees for indigents.
— released an easement no longer needed for municipal purposes.
— authorized an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) relating to a Local Public Agency Federal Local-Let Program funding in the amount not to exceed $3.81 million or 80 percent of the eligible costs relating to the Mickey Road reconstruction project.
(Below is a PDF with Shelby City Council’s full agenda from Monday evening.)