It has been years, even decades, since the fees charged by the Barton County Environmental Management Department increased the fees it charges for the myriad code enforcement services it provides. That changed Monday when the County Commission approved an updated fee schedule.
The action was taken at the request of the county’s Environmental Manager Judy Goreham. She sought to have the rates for assorted tests, inspections and zoning requests brought up to date.
All then new charges will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016.
First was the schedule for enforcing the Barton County environmental code. Goreham said some of these dated back to the 1990s.
The hike is necessary to help defray the costs of testing and the time involved in inspections, she said. This will result in about a $4,135 increase in revenue.
The Environmental Management Department enforces the Barton County environmental and sanitary code, addressing permitting requirements for all water wells and wastewater systems, licensing of the wastewater contractors and wastewater haulers, water testing, property transfer inspections and general environmental assistance.
Current fees and proposed fees:
• Water well permits – $45 to $60
• Septic system permits – $75 to $100
• Water tests – $25 to $35
(Standard bacteria and nitrate)
– Bacteria - $15 to $20
– Nitrate - $10 to $15
– Chloride - $10 to $15
• Daycare inspections – $35 to $50
• Lender evaluations – $105 to $140
(Water well/septic inspection-full)
– Septic only - $50 to $70
– Water well only - $80 to $110
– Re-visit fee - $25 to $35
Environmental Management also enforces the Barton County zoning regulations. This fee schedule has not been updated since 2000 when the county-wide zoning was put in place, Goreham said.
Current fees and proposed fees:
• Building permits – $10 to $25
• Zoning amendments – $100 to $150
• Conditional uses – $100 to $150
• Variance requests – $100 to $150
• Special use permit – $100 to $150
• Planned community district application fees
(Five or fewer lots/tracts/parcels) – $50 to $150
(Five or more lots/tracts/parcels) – $200 to $300
She recommend no change in fireworks fees, last changed in 2013.
This will result in about $645 in additional income.
In all, the changes should bring in about $5,000 more each year, Goreham said.
Looking at last year, fees collected were:
Water well permits – $2,790
Septic permits – $4,050
Water testing – $1,230
Daycare inspections – $105
Lender evaluations – $3,895
Fireworks licensing – $231.25 (County’s administrative costs)
Building permits / zoning $630
Total – $12,931.25
So far this year, fees collected are:
Water well permits – $945
Septic permits – $2,175
Water testing – $570
Daycare inspections – $70
Lender evaluations – $1,555
Fireworks licensing – $231.25 (County’s administrative costs)
Building permits/zoning – $150
Total – $5,696.25
