DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nebraska - The Douglas County Health Department warns that those who have not yet paid for the 2020 food and drink permits will be fined and risk being closed.
All of those businesses were sent invoices for their permits on November 1, 2019 but 18 businesses still owe late fees and 37 owe for the permit and late fees.
All 2019 permits expired on December 31st. The new 2020 permits are required to be in place by January 1st and any business operating without a valid permit are doing so illegally.
“The Health Department has the responsibility of keeping food safe for the public,” Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said. “The permit fees that restaurants pay fund the inspections that are needed to ensure the food you eat is safe. County taxpayers, like you and I, do not pay for the inspections.”
Special events are invoiced when permit applications are made. Anyone with questions should call the Health Department at 402-444-7488.
“We have given these restaurants every opportunity to pay for their permits and most of them have,” Dr. Pour said. “While we want to work with these businesses, those that have continued to operate unlawfully without a permit leave us with no choice to but to close them.”