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Festus amends business-license enforcement to allow water shutoffs for noncompliant businesses
Summary
Bill 48-22 adds water-disconnection as an enforcement tool for businesses that fail to obtain or renew a business license after notice, mirroring an existing mechanism used for residential water accounts.
The Festus City Council adopted Bill 48-22 to amend Section 605.18 of the city code to add water disconnection as an enforcement measure for businesses that operate without an initial or renewed business license after receiving required notice.
City staff presented the proposal as a remedy for businesses that repeatedly operate without licenses. Under the amendment, businesses that fail to obtain or renew a required license after 10 days' notice could have their city water service disconnected, be subject to standard reconnect fees and required to obtain or renew the business license to restore service. "Essentially, what it does is it places the same water notice and water disconnection as a tool to those who do not comply with our business license ordinances," a staff member said.
Staff said the approach mirrors practices in other Midwest communities and grew from consultations with other city clerks and legal review. Council suspended the rules, read the bill a second time in title only and voted to approve Bill 48-22; recorded roll call showed all present council members voting in favor.
The ordinance amends the penalty provisions of the business-license code; the council did not discuss a phased implementation plan or appeals process during the meeting.
