Pierce Co. Board adopts law to regulate tattoo parlors

By Judy Wiff

ELLSWORTH - The Pierce County Board adopted an ordinance Tuesday night that will allow the county to regulate, inspect and license tattoo parlors.

There is one state-licensed tattoo parlor in River Falls, but there are other parlors in the county that aren't licensed, said Public Health Director Jane Bruggeman when she addressed the board in December.

Inspections will be handled by the county's registered sanitarian Susie West.

Separate permits will be required for each tattoo artist or body piercer. The six-page ordinance requires that tattoo facilities be equipped with an autoclave, that records must be kept for each sterilization cycle, that all instruments must be sterilized before use and that needles must be disposable, single-patron needles.

The ordinance sets standards for skin preparation, health of tattoo artists and cleanliness of supplies and equipment.

No person under the age of 16 may be body-pierced. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds must bring along a parent or guardian to sign the consent form.

The fines for violating the ordinance range from $50 to $500 for each offense.

Tattoo or body piercing parlors will be charged a pre-inspection fee of $75. The annual fees are $100 for a single-service facility, $150 for a facility that offers both tattooing and body piercing and $50 per tattoo artist or body piercer.

Temporary facilities must also be licensed and pay a $100 fee.

In other business:

- An ordinance was introduced that will transfer title of floodplain property on Trenton Island from the county to the village of Bay City. Adoption is expected at the next County Board meeting.

The county took title to the land through the Trenton Island Property Acquisition Project. State and federal grants were used to demolish buildings on the land.

Eight of the parcels are in the village, and Bay City has asked for title to that land.

The property will be used as open space, recreational lands or wetlands. Bay City officials agree that no new structures or improvements, other than a public facility open on all sides or a restroom with a holding tank, will be built on the land.