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Hammond board waives late fees for local plumber after owner says he did not receive notices
Summary
Guevara Plumbing LLC owner told the board he never received mailed notices and asked for late fees to be waived; city staff explained the distinction between contractor and business licenses and the board voted to waive the late fees after the owner offered to pay outstanding fees and a $400 penalty.
The Board of Public Works and Safety voted to waive late-business-license fees for Guevara Plumbing LLC after the company's owner told the board he had not received notices for the two years in question and asked for leniency.
The owner (identified in the record as the speaker appearing for Guevara Plumbing) said he was "embarrassed" about the oversight, that he called city staff promptly after receiving the letter, and that he had paid newly required fees when he learned of them. He told the board he would pay the normal fees for the missed years and the $400 in penalties if the board required it, and added, "I'm at your mercy and whatever it is is what it is." The board heard this during the late-business-license hearing for Guevara Plumbing.
Lisa Serrano of the controller's office explained to the board that contractor licenses and business licenses are separate requirements — a contractor's license relates to qualifications to perform work, while a business license allows operation within the city — and said the city mailed an explanatory letter in August 2024. Staff said the city intends to apply the requirement consistently going forward and suggested making compliance easier at the point of contractor-license issuance.
After discussion, a board member moved to waive the late fees; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. The meeting record shows the owner thanked the board afterward.
Why it matters: The decision reflects how the city enforces business-license rules for home-based contractors and the board's willingness to use discretion where notice or implementation issues are apparent. The controller's office said the licensing requirement began in 2024 and staff are now implementing it uniformly.
What happens next: The owner may pay outstanding fees and recorded penalties per the board's direction; staff said they will review licensing sign-up procedures to reduce future notice problems.
Sources and attribution: Quotes and details are drawn from the owner’s remarks and from Lisa Serrano of the controller's office during the board meeting.
