Wednesday, September 20, 2000

Tyrone holding out for relief for businesses

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

If you plan to open a small business in Tyrone, this week's council meeting may be for you.

The Town Council will question the county's motives in not implementing a separate impact fee category for small businesses under 10,000 square feet. The county is trying to get the impact fee passed to help fund a new jail and improvements to the Fire Department.

Under the current fee schedule favored by the county, new retail businesses would pay according to their size, said Town Manager Barry Amos.
Retail businesses under 50,000 square feet would pay $4,331 toward the jail, while larger businesses would pay $8,600.

The retail categories drew the most ire from the council. During council's Sept. 7 meeting, Councilman Ray Bogenschutz complained that a small florist that wanted to occupy a 2,000-sq. ft. building would be paying the same as a large grocery store.

"Smaller businesses are being discouraged," he said. Council members had asked that another category with businesses under 10,000 square feet be added to the impact fee schedule, but Amos said he was not successful in convincing the county.

The council is hoping that county officials can offer reasons why another category can not be implemented. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at Tyrone Town Hall.

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