Wallace reviewing proposed business registration ordinance

WALLACE –- The Wallace City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday night where they held a workshop concerning the city’s proposed Business Registration Ordinance.  

The proposed ordinance is designed to give the city the ability to know which businesses operate within the city limits and how they are operating.  

WIthin the language of the document, it states that, “This ordinance allows for the city to retain information concerning businesses to coordinate emergency responses and to promote compliance with other provisions of the Wallace Municipal Code such as applicable zoning codes.”  

According to Shoshone County Fire Protection District #1 Chief John Miller, the situation had been discussed between himself, the city, and the city’s legal counsel due to some businesses operating in ways that they aren’t specifically zoned or approved for.  

Miller explained that he doesn’t believe any businesses are doing this maliciously, instead he believes that people believe they are going about things the correct way, but steps are being missed.  

Miller provided a recent example of their concerns and why he believes that nothing is being done intentionally, but also why the issue needs to be addressed.  

“A place of business, I can’t remember exactly what it was, but it was not a restaurant then turned into a restaurant. I went in there to do an occupancy load and found out it was a restaurant,” Miller said. “But I go in there and didn’t know it was going to be a restaurant, didn’t know it was going to be remodeled. They thought they had gone through all the right channels. Building permit, signed off. Electrical, signed off. HVAC, signed off. So they didn’t feel like they were in the wrong.”  

Miller and the city were adamant about not wanting to be in the business of shutting down new businesses because of any technicalities, but there are certain codes that both entities must enforce based on the specific services being done within a business.  

“I don’t think myself or the fire department have an issue with any existing businesses, it’s more for these new businesses coming in,” Miller said. “They’re taking a building that was a mercantile place and is now a restaurant and bar. I would need to know that to make sure that things are built in place before they get a license, before they operate.”  

The ordinance has been met with some opposition from the community, as some feel that it allows the city to be intrusive with their businesses, as well as concerns over annual registration fees – which are still undecided. There are also some who were unopposed, but instead looking for clarity in some areas of the ordinance.  

Instances where multiple businesses are operating from one location, or business owners with multiple DBAs under one umbrella. Other concerns over the document’s section on ongoing inspections was widely discussed, with clearer verbiage being requested.  

The city council heard these concerns and decided to send the document back to its legal counsel for amending.  

No timetable for these amendments was determined, but the scheduled meeting of the Wallace City Council is Wednesday, September 11, at 5 p.m.  

A full copy of the proposed ordinance can be found on the city's website at www.wallace.id.gov.