By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously passed an ordinance on final reading that revises the fees established for signs and other permits. Board members took the action during their Dec. 14 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Mike Caruthers and seconded by Alderman Chris Ford. The board previously determined that it is in the best interest of Millington’s residents to make the city’s Building Codes uniform with those of Shelby County and to have inspections conducted by the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement. At their June 9 meeting, board members passed an ordinance on final reading to accomplish that goal and to establish fees for permits issued under Title 12 of the Municipal Code. The OCCE began its inspection services for the city on Sept. 1. The new ordinance states that fees for signs and some other services were established in other parts of the Code or by resolution. It notes that they needed to be revised, so they would be consistent with the intent of the previous ordinance and also meet the requirements of state law. A newly adopted Section 12-103 of the Code states that the city will levy a $30 fee for review and approval of installation, removal or replacement of each curb cut or sidewalk. The new ordinance also repeals Section 14-2415(3) in its entirety and replaces it with a new section. For each sign, the review fee will be $50, and the permit fee will be whatever is established from time to time by the OCCE. A property owner, business occupant or organization that is allowed more than one sign must obtain a separate sign permit and, if required, an electrical permit for each sign. A sign permit will not be required for cleaning, repainting or other customary maintenance that is periodically performed on a properly permitted sign. Any sign with internal or external lighting, including ground lighting, will require an electrical permit, as well as inspections under the provisions of the Electrical Code. Except to the extent required by the OCCE, the fees established by the new ordinance will not be levied against the following: (a) special service station signs (b) civic and church signs (c) real estate signs (d) exempt signs (e) temporary window signs
The permit fee for any temporary sign, including a banner, will be $25.
