The West Bend Finance Committee on Aug. 18 approved a resolution intended to ease recovery from a recent heavy rain and flood event by waiving specific permit fees for storm‑damage repairs and clarifying reporting and permitting deadlines.

City staff member Ian explained that the resolution contains two primary components: a set of permit‑fee waivers limited to work that had been previously permitted, and a general declaration of emergency to preserve the city’s ability to recoup funds should grant or disaster reimbursement become available. Staff emphasized the waivers were not intended to excuse unpermitted renovations unrelated to storm damage.

Key provisions discussed and adopted included:
• Requirement that property damage be reported through the city’s survey process (referenced in the meeting as the city survey process) by Aug. 29 to help quantify damage for possible declarations and funding applications.
• Permit applications for eligible repairs must be submitted by March 1 of the following year; late fees had already been waived by the city as a discretionary measure.
• Fee waivers apply only to work that previously had a permit; permit applications for older unpermitted work were not eligible for fee waivers.
• Language granting reasonable discretion to city staff to respond to situations where storm damage could not be discovered until later in the year.

Committee members asked city staff to publicize the relief and reporting process; staff agreed to work with the communications team to post information on the city website. Alderman Butchlich moved the resolution and the committee approved it by voice vote.

What happens next: affected property owners should report damage by Aug. 29 and consult the city’s published guidance to determine permit eligibility and application deadlines.