Committee amends municipal code to increase penalty for working without electrical permit

The Public Health and Safety Committee on Sept. 15 approved an amendment to Wausau Municipal Code section 18.05.06 to increase the retroactive penalty for working without an electrical permit. Why it matters: the change raises the fee applied when a property owner obtains a permit after work has already begun; staff described it as a housekeeping change to the existing electrical-permit penalty schedule. Committee discussion was brief. The chair described the proposal as an update to the existing fine schedule so that the fee for working without a permit would be tripled rather than doubled when a retroactive permit is sought. Watson moved to approve the adjustment; Lukens seconded and the motion carried with no opposition. The committee approved the change as an amendment to the municipal code; the modification will be processed through ordinance adoption steps and incorporated into the city—s permit fee schedule.