Last week, Sapulpa Herald published a story on the Health Department enforcing rules that had been deemed unconstitutional. The Herald reached out to the Oklahoma State Health Department for comments but did not receive a reply until after publication. Here is the response:
“OSDH continues to assess the 2007 Order, as well as the applicability of relevant statutes to new applicants and new locations. OSDH will provide additional information and guidance to applicants and license holders as we complete our review. In an effort to clarify ongoing regulatory guidance, the effective date of all changes has been moved to November 1, 2023. “This will allow sufficient time for continued assessment, and allow new applicants and/or new locations additional time to prepare for pertinent regulatory requirements. OSDH’s overarching goals remain compliance with applicable statutes, concise regulatory guidance, and protecting the public health of all Oklahomans.”
Brandon Mull, owner of Water Street Tattoo, recently told the Sapulpa Herald that a Creek County Health Inspector had come by for inspection and talked to him about the latest letter from OSDH. Mull said the inspector confirmed what he thought, “It is somebody that has been there three years, who is going through this stuff and going, ‘hey, you guys aren’t enforcing this so I am going to get brownie points for enforcing this,’” he said. He was told by the inspector that the rank and file were told “to be quiet.”
The Sapulpa Herald has reached out to the Creek County Health Department for comment, but as of publication has not received a response.
