Chad Weinbrenner, deputy county administrator, told the Berkeley County Commission on Sept. 18 that the 45-day petition period required by state code after adoption of the county's impact fee ordinance has ended with no petition received, clearing the way to set a start date for collection.
Weinbrenner said the county had initially discussed Oct. 1 as a possible start date, but staff recommended a Nov. 1 implementation to allow about 30 extra days for administrative preparation and to coordinate collection procedures with the City of Martinsburg. "An extra 30 days would be ideal," he said, citing the need to finish collection procedures and to coordinate capital improvement plans and school/district plans tied to the fees.
The commission moved, seconded and approved an order setting Nov. 1, 2025, as the date to begin collecting the impact fees adopted earlier by the commission.
The deputy administrator told commissioners the capital improvement plans and school system planning already underway would inform how the fees are used and that fee dollars collected inside the city would be used for city capital needs as planned.