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Food-seller license fees to increase in city

Cost-analysis of inspections in the previous year are responsible for raise, which council must still approve.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Tony Rodriguez (left) and Bill Robinson prepare food inside the kitchen at Ryan’s Tavern on Monday in Hamilton.

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By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer 1:52 AM Thursday, January 6, 2011

HAMILTON — After a decrease in 2010, local food sellers will see a slight increase in their license fees from the city of Hamilton this year.

The city’s cost for license fees fluctuates annually based on cost-analysis of the inspections completed the previous calendar year.

“It’s a break-even analysis,” said Shawn Dempsey, acting health director. “It takes how many hours we spent in 2009 with sanitarians and staff doing inspections divided by the number of licenses.”

Dempsey said there are five categories within the analysis — food service operations such as restaurants, retail food establishments such as groceries, vending machines, mobile units such as trailers at county fairs, and temporary events such as those at churches.

Dempsey said the state mandates at least two annual inspections of restaurants, while operations such as vending machines are only required to have one.

“We have to make sure we aren’t charging them too much, or too little,” Dempsey said. “We found there were more hours dedicated in 2009 than in 2008, so the food license fees go up.”

For Ryan’s Tavern on High Street, the cost of one inspection in 2010 was $240 — that will increase to $278.

“With the way the city and county are they probably need a little help, but our costs are up across the board with beer, food, minimum wage,” said Tully Milders, general manager at Ryan’s Tavern.

Milders said while everyone’s costs are increasing, Ryan’s is trying to hold ground with its prices.

The fee increase will go before City Council on Jan. 12 for approval.

Dempsey said the licensing year begins March 1.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.

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