After a public input session and gaining approval from the ordinance review committee, instituting a business permit system will be up for council consideration at next week’s meeting.
The new permits will give the city a way to track economic development and provide statistics for job growth, said Karen Minkel, the project manager for the proposal.
Since the public input session in April, the permit fee has been reduced from $64 to $35. If applications are submitted electronically, the fee is $32. For home-based businesses, the cost is $22 for paper applications and $20 for electronic submissions. The fee for annual renewal will be $15.
The required fee is not a way to generate income, Minkel said. Rather, the money will offset the cost for implementing the plan.
The business owner’s cell phone number and driver’s license number have been dropped from permit application. Originally, the form had blanks for both, but because the information would be subject to Freedom of Information requests, it was taken off the application.
Also slated for the next meeting, the council could approve providing sewage service and fire hydrant water for the city of Johnson.
Fayetteville has ample water pressure to supply the service to Johnson, Utilities Director David Jurgens said at the agenda session. Fayetteville already provides drinking water to most of Johnson residents who live south of Clear Creek, and because the infrastructure is already in place, no additional costs will be levied on Fayetteville residents.
Upon council approval, Fayetteville could also begin providing sewer service to parts of Johnson. Allowing about 160 customers in Johnson to use the city’s wastewater treatment facility rather than septic systems is ecologically advantageous, City Attorney Kit Williams said.
“It’s a good thing for both cities,” Williams said.
Both agreements are 15-year contracts.
Proposed business permit fees
Initial fee: $35, ($32 if filed online)
Initial home-based fee: $22, ($20 if filed online)
Annual renewal fee (all businesses): $15
More ordinance info
- Full ordinance packet – Access Fayetteville
- Prospect of requiring business permits spurs debate – Fayetteville Flyer
- City officials turn to Fayetteville Forward group for public input on business registry – Ozarks Unbound
- Owners Express Opposition – NWAOnline
Mary Robbins is a regular contributor for the Fayetteville Flyer. She declared Fayetteville as her hometown upon moving here for college. She is a Journalism graduate who enjoys live music, the outdoors and attending city council meetings. For more of Mary’s contributions, visit her author page.
