Stratford may expand building permit fees
By Kevin O’Brien
Stratford residents may soon have to start paying for building permits regardless of how small their projects are, based on a recommendation from the village’s public works director.
DPW Scott Dennee brought the proposal to the public works committee at its Aug. 27 meeting, noting that most municipalities require a building permit for any type of work to be done. Stratford, however, does not require one for projects such as reshingling a roof, he said.
Under the village’s current ordinance, any project that costs under $1,000 to complete is exempt from the building permit requirement, but Dennee suspects that many residents underestimate their project costs just so they can avoid getting a permit.
“I would just rather have a building permit for everything,” he told the committee.
Dennee’s recommendation would be to charge $10 for the first $1,000 worth of work and an additional $3 for every $1,000 after that. If that fee structure was implemented, he said Stratford would still be charging less than most other municipalities.
Committee chairman Dale Heil asked about the charges for new construction. Dennee said those include a $35 site fee, $50 for a driveway, $500 for a new sewer hook-up and then $500 for the inspector.
“I feel we’re undercharging for everything,” Denee said. “It costs us more than $10 to go through paperwork and stuff like that.”
Heil said the village normally changes its fees during the annual budgeting process, making them effective as of the first of the year. Dennee said it would fine to wait until then, but he noted that the village’s ordinance will have to be amended.
Other business
■ The committee voted to continue providing snow removal and road salting services at 212801 STH 97, with an increase from $15 to $25 per snow event, plus $10 for salt. The motion also directed the village to discontinue snow removal and salt on the sidewalk in front of 212900 and 212922 Legion St. The owner of those buildings, Dairyland Laboratories, recently obtained an easement from the village to provide off-street parking for its employees.
■ The committee voted to renew the village’s snow removal agreement with the Stratford Area Fire Department for the 2024-2025 winter season, with the village charging SAFD $110 per plowing, plus $100 extra for each sand or salt application. The agreement only covers blacktop surfaces and overhead vehicle entrances, not sidewalks or walk-up entrances.
■ Committee members reviewed an ordinance from the city of Marshfield regarding special assessments for sidewalks and curb and gutter. Dennee said Stratford is not in line with what other municipalities charge, noting that one community charged its residents 85 percent of the costs of all the infrastructure in front of their homes and businesses.
Heil said the argument in Stratford has always been that residents pay for the infrastructure when it’s first put in, and after that, the village should be financially responsible for replacing it.
“That’s the historical argument for why it’s never been changed,” he said.
No recommendations were made by the committee, but Heil said the topic would be revisited so that trustees can review what other municipalities are charging.
“We should have this under review before we get into future projects,” Heil said. “I would agree that we need to look at it.”
