06/18/10
The Marshall County Commissioners will consider an amendment to the Ordinance that establishes building permit fees at their meeting Monday morning. It has been approximately four years since the fees were raised.
County Planning Director Ralph Booker said, “The increases are minimal for most of the fees.” He explained the reason for the increase was the need to add additional fees for wind-farms.
Increases being proposed include raising Single wide and double wide type home along with modular homes from $50 to $75. Conventional homes less than 2,000 square feet would increase from $100 to $125 and homes over 2,000 from $150 to $175. Home additions have increased $50 to $75 for an addition less than 1,000 square feet or $125 for over 1,000 square feet. Permit fees for accessory structures, decks, carports and porches only increased $10 to $40. Other increases were for structural roof changes from $25 to $30 and re-inspections from $20 to $30.
The amendment includes the adding of permit fees for Wind Energy Conversion Systems. Currently the ordinance doesn’t address commercial ventures. If a permit was sought today the fee would only be $200 per tower. The proposed fees include for towers with production of over 1 megawatt at $1,750 per megawatt, towers over 400 kilowatts at $600 per tower and towers under 50 kilowatts at $400 per tower.
Citizens interested in a private wind system tower would only have a permit fee of $40 an increase of only $10 while meteorological towers would be $100 each.
The ordinance also includes the following: Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) applicants shall pay all costs associated with the review and processing of applications for WECS Construction Permits and WECS Inspection Certificates by Marshall County, including without limitation the Board of Commissioners, Building Commissioner, Economic Development Commission, Surveyor and Plan Commission. Applicant shall submit a minimum application fee with the application in the amount set forth in the fee schedule.
