Cam Cavitt

LANSING — State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheyboygan, has criticized District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) in Northeast Michigan for issuing citations to children running a local lemonade stand at a Rogers City farmer’s market in a Monday press release.

The incident was brought to Cavitt’s attention in which the health department required the children to pay $57 every two weeks throughout the season to run the lemonade stand. The $57 charge was in addition to new vendor participation fees.

Cavitt told The News that his criticism of the health department issuing citations to children is compounded by his dissatisfaction of how the health department has handled its financial challenges since June.

The previous DHD4 administrative health officer, Denise Bryan, disclosed to health board members this past summer that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) had taken back $700,000 of DHD4’s money. That amount taken back by the state currently totals $1.2 million.

“The failing District 4 health department is underwater by millions of dollars; instead of fixing their money problems internally, they’re pushing the bill onto school-aged children,” Cavitt said in the release. “Why on earth are we bullying and penalizing kids for the grave crime of having a lemonade stand? Is the state of Michigan so desperate for funding that we have no other option aside from stealing a child’s lunch money? It’s completely unnecessary, and District Health Department No. 4 must stop giving out these citations.”

Cavitt called for the health department to “stop bullying children and focus on things that matter.”

“We’re supposed to be teaching our children about responsibility, but we’re pricing them out of the opportunities they need to develop real business skills,” Cavitt said in the release. “We need the health department to simply leave them alone. Kids don’t pay taxes, and they shouldn’t have to pay for absurd health department permits either. Lemonade stands are a part of every town gathering in the summer, and we shouldn’t let the health department’s greed put a stop to that tradition.”

The News has left a message with DHD4 leadership for comment regarding this situation. Check back for updates.