By K.D. Norris
For local restaurants struggling to keep the doors open, any financial help is valuable, including the about $500 Kentwood’s The Candied Yam and owner Jessica Ann Tyson will not be spending on a county food service licensing fee this year.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Thursday, March 25, to waive the 2021 food service licensing fee for all existing food establishments in Kent County “due to the significant hardship food establishments have experienced with closures and capacity limitations related to COVID‐19,” according to a statement from the county.
“It will help … its like $500 and up,” Tyson told WKTV when asked about the fee and how much it will save her business.
“Our restaurant owners and employees are hurting — they are among the hardest hit by the pandemic,” Kent County board chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “The Board of Commissioners felt very strongly about waiving this fee as one small way to provide meaningful assistance where possible.”
This one‐time waiver, according to the county statement, will apply to the 2,294 existing food establishments (permanent, fixed, temporary, Special Transitory Food Units, or mobile) in Kent County that would otherwise be required to pay their annual licensing and inspection fee by April 30.
The Kent County action will total to “about $1.1 to $1.2 million” in waived fees, Monica Sparks, county commissioner for Kentwood’s commission District 12, said to WKTV.
“We took that out of the (county) budget,” Sparks said, while also giving credit to Dr. Adam London, Kent County Health Department director, for bringing the idea forward.
“The Health Department has worked tirelessly with our restaurants and bars over the last year to adapt to evolving regulations and occupancy restrictions,” London said in supplied material. “We are keenly aware of the challenges facing these establishments and we appreciate the Board providing this financial relief as they continue to weather the impacts of the pandemic.”
While the licensing and inspection fees are being waived, all restaurants are still required to submit a renewal application by April 30. The application will ensure establishments remain licensed during the 2021-22 operating period.
If an establishment does not intend to renew its license, the application still should be returned but include a signed note requesting its license be cancelled. Food establishments should expect to receive a renewal application from the health department within the next two weeks.
Restaurant owners with questions should contact the Kent County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, at 616‐632‐6900 or KCEHMail@kentcountymi.gov.
