February 7, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Building permit fees are going up in the City of Smithville.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Aldermen adopted on first reading an ordinance to amend the current schedule of permit fees for building, mechanical, and plumbing upon the recommendation of the city’s building codes inspector Lewis Bryant.
Currently, building permits are calculated based on $80 per square foot cost for a single-family dwelling. Under this ordinance, the fee would increase to $120 per square foot cost. For example, the cost of a building permit for a 1,953 square foot structure would increase from the current fee of $694.10 to $951.50.
Mechanical permits currently include a $30 base fee for the first $1,000 and $3 for each additional thousand dollars. The new base fee would go to $50 for the first $1,000 and $5 for each additional thousand dollars.
The cost of a plumbing permit currently includes a $20 base fee plus $3.50 per fixture. The new plumbing permit would consist of a $40 base fee plus $5.00 per fixture.
According to the ordinance amendment, the final building permit valuation shall be set by the building official and may be adjusted upon current data provided by the International Code Council where applicable.
The ordinance amendment also establishes a $100 fee for consultation or inspection not otherwise covered by a building, mechanical, or plumbing permit.
Second and final reading of the ordinance will be scheduled at the next meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen following a public hearing in March.
In other business, Mayor Josh Miller announced that Travis Holland has been hired to work at the sewer plant. He will have to be employed for a year before he can earn his certification for the position. The aldermen voted to approve the hiring of Holland.
Meanwhile, the aldermen approved the re-appointment of Renee Steff and Bert Driver to the Smithville Industrial Development Board. Their terms are for two years.
The aldermen also adopted on first reading an ordinance to rezone the Carol Buchanan property from R-1 residential to C-1 commercial located at State Route 56 and Jennings Lane near the Smithville Church of the Nazarene. The action was taken upon the recommendation of the Smithville Planning Commission. Second and final reading action on the rezoning ordinance will be scheduled following a public hearing at the next meeting in March.