City Council Shakes Heads at Health Permit Leniency

During the presentation of the city’s plan to slowly increase fees for a number of facilities and city services, an increase in the late fee for a restaurant acquiring their health permit was a red button issue.  It seems some local businesses have difficulty paying for their health permit fee on time, so the health department suggested a stiffer penalty fee of $50, over the original amount of $25. “I do have a problem with raising the late fee from 25 to 50, that to me is punitive…I don’t like that, that’s too much,” said Mayor Morrison. 

Restaurants are sent reminders in December by the city via mail that their payment for health permit renewal is due at the end of January. According to Sandra Villareal, the health department offers leniency of up to three months before any action other than late fee penalties are taken or acquired. “We kind of give them a three month window,” Villareal said. “We will visit [the business] and we could basically shut them down if they don’t have the correct permit. But, we use the late fees first before it gets to that point.”

“Mayor, they’re giving them three months,” Grindstaff said.

“If that’s the case, I don’t have a problem with three months, but however, I think if they’ve not paid their fees and not got their permits after three months, they [should] be shut down,” the mayor said.

Villareal said that there was a list being compiled of those not in compliance with the up to date permit.

“I don’t have a problem with the late fee,” said Grindstaff. “It’s an annual fee, you are sent a reminder, people have a choice, a choice to pay within the three months.”

Rodney Fleming asked if there was anything written stating a business could be shut down after the third month of not holding an up to date permit, to which Villareal responded there was not.  

In the end, most of the councilmembers agreed that there should be a stricter policy on holding a valid up to date health permit when operating a food establishment. Beyond a three month leniency, the council is not too keen on the idea of businesses being allowed to operate for so long under an outdated permit. It is likely you will see this topic on a city council agenda coming soon.

Other Items

The annexation of a piece of property off of Arden Rd. heard its first public hearing, yesterday at the city council meeting.  Planning Manager Rebecca Guerra outlined the annexation plan, and also presented mapped representations of the property outlining where the city limits would extend geographically. The piece of land in question is an oddly shaped property creating a slightly confusing city limit boundary if annexed.

“There are difficulties on observing this,” said Elizabeth Grindstaff in reference to some of the property outline maps shown. “It gets to become confusing as to what is in the city limits and what is outside of the city limits…police response, fire response, all of it, not to mention utilities.”

“I agree with Liz on this, this could be problematic in the future,” said Rodney Fleming. “There is a man camp,[on an adjoining property] I don’t want to bring that in. I think we could have some big problems in the future if we do that.”

The second public hearing on the annexation will take place on May 5 at the city council meeting.

A resolution in support of the San Angelo Home Builders Association participation in the Operation Finally Home project authorizing in-kind support by waiving the municipal building and permit fees related to the construction totaling $540 was approved. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Campbell, a disabled veteran who received a Purple Heart in 2012, and his family will move from West Virginia when the project is complete. Permit fees totaling $540 were waived by the council in support of the project which will begin construction in The Bluffs in the next few weeks.

Operation Finally Home is still shy the donations needed for building the Campbells’ new home here in San Angelo. A raffle will be held in order to fill the gap and give back to the soldier and his family who gave selflessly in the defense of our nation.  Fifty Guns in Fifty Days starts on May 1, to purchase raffle tickets or for more information, contact the HBA at (325) 949-0140.
Home Motors Inc. has been contracted by the city for many years now to take care of all of their towing and impoundment services. Nine times out of ten when LIVE! visits the scene of an accident, Home Motors is there to remove the aftermath. The city council approved another three year contract with the reputable towing company.

Water rebates for this year were considered.  Each year in April and November the city council reviews the financial condition of the water operations fund, and in the past have issued a rebate to the city’s water customers.  The water operations fund balance this year is $957,355. Since the fund balance is less than the goal ($4,864,322) it was decided it would not be fiscally prudent for the city to issue the rebate at this time.