Board waives half of late amusement-device fees for K and P Laundromat
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Summary
The owner of K and P Laundromat, Carl Kiefer, asked the board to waive late fees for two unattended amusement devices; the board voted to waive half of the assessed late fees and require the owner to pay the remaining amount.
Hammond City’s board voted on Sept. 3 to waive half of the late fees owed for amusement devices at K and P Laundromat, 4544 Calumet, while requiring the owner to pay the remainder.
Owner Carl Kiefer told the board he was unaware the city’s licensing policy required business owners to hold amusement-device licenses for machines placed on their premises by third-party vendors. Kiefer said the machines are provided by a separate vendor that rents space in his facility and that he receives a small commission from the vendor’s revenues.
The licensing administrator explained to the board that the city holds business owners responsible for devices located on their property when the city cannot reliably identify or contact separate amusement owners. Staff said the laundromat’s amusement devices lacked prior amusement licenses and therefore accrued late fees.
Staff recommended waiving four years of late fees and requiring payment for three years. The board adopted a motion to waive half of the outstanding fees; staff said the total liability before the waiver was $1,400 (two devices at $50 per device per year, plus late fees), and the board’s motion effectively reduced the owner’s out-of-pocket obligation. The board approved the motion by voice vote and invited Kiefer to remain after the meeting to obtain the final amount and pay the balance.
No formal penalties beyond the payment requirement were imposed. The board did not change the municipal policy that business owners are responsible for devices on their property.
