APC to update permit fee schedule; assessed valuation drives proposed increase

Grant County Area Plan Commission members on Sept. 4 voted to receive staff's proposed fee-schedule changes and directed staff to prepare a resolution for consideration at the commission's October meeting.

Staff presented a draft that ties permit‑fee adjustments to the county's assessed valuation, consistent with an existing provision in the area-wide zoning ordinance that requires a five-year review. The presenter noted the commission's last fee update was in 2018 and that staff had originally circulated a draft based on an estimate; after checking certified auditor numbers staff said the correct percent-change since 2018 is approximately 28 percent.

A commission member noted the distinction between a resolution and an ordinance: the commission will prepare a resolution for the commissioners because the board of county commissioners holds ordinance authority. Staff said it will recalculate fees, post the revised fee table online for public review and bring a resolution for the APC's public hearing and vote next month.

The commission made a procedural motion to "receive the fee change information and then have that ready for review by resolution next meeting." The motion passed on a roll-call vote (Raymond Baer, Jerry Caddell, Josh Courtney, Travis Lemaster, John Pearson, Karen Poland and Dana Richmond all recorded yes).