WM tables plans to update codes

WM tables plans to update codes

City officials want to put comprehensive changes in place before moving for-ward with overhaul of fines, fees

news@theeveningtimes.com

You have to know when to hold them, know when to fold them or just walk away. West Memphis City Council walked away from a pair of proposed city ordinances during its Feb. 1 meeting. The hand in hand ordinances were designed to amend city codes and set new fees for licenses and business privileges in the city.

Fees charged by West Memphis have remained level for nearly 40 years.

According to Senior City Clerk Cindy Greenwood entire categories of businesses have gone unmodified.

“Our fees have not been updated since 1979,” said Senior City Clerk Cindy Greenwood when the idea was introduced to city council in mid January.

“We don’t have a category for industry. Truck stops and industry generate a lot of demand for police and fire services. I see us increasing those fees for the amount of time our police have to go to these places.” Not having a new fee list, City Attorney Mike Stephenson suggested that city council wait until fees could be studied and agreed upon. Having the fees up to date seemed a logical part of considering an up to date ordinance.

“It is my belief we need more time to look at the fee ordinance because there are some outdated fees that need to be changed before its voted on,” said Stephenson. “They need to be changed before being adopted so we aren’t having to change them again a little later. “

Stephenson thought waiting would save the city some money. “If they are going to be changed at some point, we might as well do it now instead of publishing it twice in the newspaper after we make the changes,” said Stephenson.

The city attorney suggested more time for ground work before presenting a new schedule for city council to consider.

“I’m requesting to table it all indefinitely,” said Stephenson. “The mayor and I talked about 90 days.

Whether passed or not they both need to be dealt with at the same time.”

Once on the floor for city council James Pulliaum made quick work of the items calling for the two ordinances to be tabled.

Being the only items on the agenda the meeting was adjourned in about four minutes with city council unanimously setting aside any further immediate considerations

of the city code

and fee proposals.

By John Rech