I know more than one family who has moved from McHenry County to Boone County.

It’s cheaper to live there.

But, alerted by former McHenry County resident and Democratic Party Board member Bill Pysson’s “Boone County Watchdog,” I discovered a reason to be glad I’m living here.

The Boone County Board of Health has decided to require organizations handing out packaged candy and bottled water to get a license.

Lots of entries distribute lots of candy at the Marengo Settlers Days Parade.

A Belvidere Daily Republican article caught my interest.

It says the Board of Health was going to continue requiring organization to get licenses, but would discontinue the $75 charge.

Opponents call it “the ‘Tootsie Roll’ thing. It’s stupid,” to put it in the words of Boone County Board member Marion Thornberry.

He was referring to some Boone County Fair exhibitors who had to get a Health Department permit to hand out pieces of wrapped candy.

The article describes talk on the County Board about abolishing the Health Department.

I called the McHenry County Health Department and learned there are not similar plans in McHenry County.

Good thing, too, because Marengo Settlers Days Parade is this Sunday, October 13th at 2 PM.

It is a wonderful parade, made pretty close to spectacular by the many marching bands who have a competition at the high school after the parade.

Here are the photos and commentary McHenry County Blog published on the 2011 parade:

• Marengo Settlers Day Parade – More County Board Politicians & Other Entries – Part 1
• Settlers Day Parade – More County Board Politicians & Other Entries – Part 2
• Settlers Day Parade – More County Board Politicians & Other Entries – Part 3

Here’s what the Illinois Department of Public Health had to say on the subject:

“Per the Food Service Sanitation Code Part 750, a food service establishment includes ‘any such place regardless of whether consumption is on or off the premises and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food.’

“A local health department may permit any establishment it considers to fall under this definition.

“The Code is the minimum requirement for food service.

“Local health departments can customize their programs as long as they are at least as stringent as the Code; they cannot be less so.

“Due to staffing levels or funding, some local health departments must devote staff to regulate higher-risk establishments (high relative risk of causing food-borne illness.)”