GENTRY -- Businesses in Gentry will no longer have to pay higher fees for licenses if they have employees. The city council, on Oct. 5, passed an ordinance, on three readings with a single vote, to set the fee for all occupational licenses within the city at $25, amending the previous law which had a rate schedule in which fees increased as the number of employees increased.
The ordinance was adopted on three readings last week so that it would be in effect and notices for annual license renewals could be sent out with the new fee in place.
The change was made so as to not penalize businesses for having employees.
The council passed a required millage resolution for 2015, leaving the current millage rate unchanged.
The council also approved two lists of professionals for negotiations for engineering services for park projects and for proposed work at the Flint Creek Nature Area. For park projects, McClelland, CEI and Civil Engineering were chosen for contract negotiations in that order. For engineering services at the Flint Creek Nature Area, Civil Engineering was moved to the top of the list.
The council chose the professionals with a view of finding engineering firms to assist the city in project design and grant applications, with fees included in the grant amount and not charged if grants for the work are not obtained. The council hopes this will enable the city to obtain grant funding for projects it would not otherwise be able to seek.
General News on 10/14/2015