DETROIT LAKES - Fees charged by the city of Detroit Lakes are among the lowest in the state, but probably not for long: The City Council is discussing increasing fees.
A hearing is set for the next city council meeting, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m., to hear public comment on changing the fee for liquor licenses. The council is also asking for input on other fee increases.
For liquor licenses, the city is proposing a 50 percent increase. The fee has not been increased in 13 years.
An on-sale intoxicating license is $2,000 a year now, and would be $3,000 with the increase. An on-sale 3.2 beer license is $150 and would increase to $225. On-sale intoxicating temporary is $50 and would be $75, and an off-sale 3.2 beer license is $150 and would be $225.
On the on-sale intoxicating license increase, which would jump $1,000, Alderman GL Tucker said, "I'm fine with (the increase), but that's where we're going to be catching heat."
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Sunday licenses are $150 and would increase to $200. That increase would not be 50 percent because the state limit is $200. Wine licenses would only increase from $500 to $550.
The on- and off-sale license increases would generate roughly $15,300 per year.
With all fees in general, assistant city administrator Lynne Krieger said, "When you make recommendations, it's just to cover administrative fees because you can't make a profit on fees."
She added that staff costs have increased, many times the city has to send out certified letters, and other administrative costs have added up so most fees aren't even covering the costs anymore.
Alderman Bruce Imholte said he was in favor of some of the fee increases because it's easier to raise fees $5 to $10 a year rather than $300 or so every five to 10 years.
A few of the other proposed fee increases include plumbing licenses from $25 to $40 a year, dog and cat impounding fees from $10 fine and $15 per day to board to $30 fine and $20 per day to board, and rental registration from $10 per building to $25 per building.
One category of fees that likely won't increase are for building permits.
"I don't think it's a good time to be raising (building permit) fees," City Administrator Bb Louiseau said, due to the economy.
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"We ought to encourage as much building as possible," he added.
Most of the building permit fees are based on the cost of the project being constructed.
The hearing will be Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. in city hall.
