Wallace sets fees for business registration law

WALLACE –– The Wallace City Council approved a resolution setting the fees for the city’s recently adopted Business Registration Ordinance during a special meeting on Tuesday evening.  

The council adopted the ordinance in September, but the fee structure for the new registration was not included in the legislation’s language. Instead, the council opted to set those fees through a resolution, which, reportedly, allows the council to amend or change the fees easier than if they tried to amend an ordinance.  

Last week, the council met to discuss a proposed fee structure and voice any concerns before allowing the public to speak on the matter.  

The approved fee structure is less than what had been proposed originally, but it is higher than what some of the council members would’ve liked to see.  

The originally proposed fees included an initial registration fee of $50 and a $30 charge for annual renewal. Instead, the approved fee structure begins at $40 for the initial fees, with the annual renewal fee remaining at $30. Businesses that have surveillance systems will receive a 50% discount on these charges.   

During the meeting last week, Councilmember Cindy Lien said she would like to see the proposed fees cut in half while maintaining a discounted rate for businesses with active surveillance systems. 

“I’m not saying it should be free, but we should make it as low as we can,” Lien said previously. “We’re asking business owners, again, to pony up more money.” 

The registration also states that businesses claiming to have an active surveillance system may be asked to provide proof when registering and renewing. Businesses are also subject to ongoing inspections by either the fire chief or any agent appointed by the city to ascertain the accuracy of the information provided to the city.  

The city also decided to implement some rules for businesses looking to take advantage of the annual renewal discount. Businesses that have had their registrations revoked or allowed them to lapse will not qualify for the discounted rate.  

Registrations must be obtained before operations commence. Each registration must be approved by the city council, who will approve or deny it at the next council meeting after applying. Renewal applications must be submitted no later than 30 days before the current registration expires.  

The new ordinance is currently active, so business owners in Wallace should reach out to the city to remain in compliance.

For more information on Wallace’s new Business Registration Ordinance, reach out to the city at (208) 752-1147.