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Eaton County approves higher construction and festival inspection fees after debate from residents and staff
Summary
The Eaton County Board of Commissioners approved updated building code fees at its June 18 meeting after public commenters and code staff sparred over a new $250 festival inspection charge and the scope of county inspections.
Eaton County commissioners voted June 18 to approve an updated construction code fee schedule that increases many permit and inspection charges, including a new $250 fee for festival inspections.
The vote followed public comment from festival organizers who said the new festival fee and the way it was applied risked hurting long‑running community events. "I encourage you to table this until some further investigation has been completed," resident Jody Pruden told the board, urging more review of code enforcement practices. Steve Hayes, president of the Vermontville Maple Syrup Corporation, said his group had been charged twice and asked the board to review whether festival organizers — not carnival operators — should be assessed the fee.
County code official Chris Garrison, who presented the fee changes at the Ways and Means Committee and at…
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