Brown County Health Department

The Annual Food Permit application for Brown County for 2020 is now available. Completed application forms and payment are due between January 2nd and January 31st. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot take money prior to January 2nd.

For seasonal operations, licenses need to be renewed prior to opening.  Special events (i.e. Valentines Day openings) licensing must be in place. All year/ non-seasonal permits paid after the 31st of January will be subject to a $10/day fine.

Original signed copy of the application are required to issue the license.  We cannot accept scanned copies. You can mail this signed form to us or drop it off at the office. We do take credit and debit cards, money orders and cash for a 3% fee.  Please call the office if you have any questions.

Annual Licensing Letter 2020.pdf
Annual License Application 2020.pdf
Checklist for Non-Profit Organizations.pdf

Since the winter is almost upon us, here are some helpful cold weather safety tips from the Brown County Health Department;

Make a winter survival kit for your home;
1) Food that needs no cooking or refrigeration: bread, crackers, dried fruit, granola bars, pop-tarts, candy bars etc..
2) Water stored in clean containers: 5 gallons per person
3) Medicines you may need
4) Flashlight with extra batteries
5) Battery powered radio
6) Power pack so you can recharge your cell phone without electricity
7) Hand warmers and Extra blankets

If you are over 65, check the temperature of your home more frequently. Older adults make less body heat and are more prone to developing hypothermia. Shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, are some of the symptoms of hypothermia. Check on your elderly neighbors!

Make an emergency kit for your car;
1) Blankets
2) First aid kit
3) Tool kit with a Collapsible shovel, Jumper cables and a Tow rope
4) Container of water
5) Flashlight with extra batteries
6) Snacks: peanut butter crackers, candy bars, Vienna sausages, tuna in pouches, etc..
7) Extra gloves and Extra socks (in case your feet get wet)
8) Bag of sand or kitty litter (to use for traction on ice or snow)

If you do have to go outside, wear a hat, gloves, several layers of clothing, a scarf and water resistant shoes or boots. Don't ignore shivering, it's a sign that you are losing body heat.

For more helpful tips, see http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter

Next ServSafe class Food Manager Certification Class will be March 2nd-3rd at the Brown County Annex Building. Class starts both days at 8:30 AM, it runs until 12:30 PM on the first day and then on the second day the test will be given at the end of class with a two hour test time, so the class may run until 2:30 PM. The test will be given about noon. Cost for the class, text and answer sheet is $150. Call the Brown County Health Department to reserve a place in this class. If you have the 7TH edition of the text you will only be charged $60 for the class, but if you don’t have this latest edition, you will need to purchase it, as there have been many changes to the previous 6th edition text. This class will be taught on the 2017 food code.
Class is limited to 12 participants. You can pick up your text when you pay for the class, the Brown County Health Department is open 8-4 M-F and you can study in advance.

All businesses are required to have a Food MANAGER on staff, unless you are a 501 c(3) or only carry pre-packaged non- refrigerated food. (This certification is not the "Food handler" online version) In the 2017 food code, which will be adopted in the next couple of years, you will be required to have a Food Manager ON SITE at all times that the operation is open.

For more information or to register call 812-988-2255.

This FREE food safety class can be provided either at the County Building or your restaurant or food service establishment. This is a basic class that discusses the ways to help prevent food borne illness and is geared towards service staff, dishwashers, kitchen help and management. This is not a certified class and will not meet the requirements for a Certified Food Handler, but it will give staff a working knowledge of the reasons behind some of the Food Code regulations.
 
Contact Jennifer Heller, EHS at the Brown County Health Department to set up a time and location for presentations. (812) 988-2255

In an effort to ensure proper disposal of sharps (needles, syringes, and lancets), the Brown County Health Department is now participating in a sharps container disposal program. This is a free service for county residents who may use sharps for themselves, family members, pets, and/or livestock. Sharps containers may be picked up at the Health Department M-F, 8:30-3:30, with the exception of holidays.

A full, sealed sharps container can be returned to the Health Department for free disposal and an empty one received at that time. Sharps containers are for sharps only. No other waste is to be placed in the container. The Health Department will only collect and dispose of FDA-cleared sharps containers. Alternative sharps containers, such as detergent bottles or coffee cans, will not be accepted. This is not a syringe exchange program.

The Brown County Health Department thanks you for participating in this program in an effort to keep sharps out of our daily trash and helping to maintain Brown County as a beautiful place to live and work.