Members of the City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Wednesday evening at City Hall, to discuss possible changes in the fee charged for building permits.

During the City Council’s meeting on August 7^th, Cass County Ag & Education Association President Curt Behrends requested the Council consider the abatement of a $3,000 permit fee the Fair Board would have to pay, for the construction of a 12,000-square foot open cattle barn on the County Fairgrounds. Mayor Dave Jones directed the Personnel and Finance Committee to study the request and come up with a recommendation for the City Council to act on, at a future meeting.

Following discussion during their meeting Wednesday, the Committee decided to recommend the Council approve the lowering of the building fee from 30-cents per square foot to 15-cents, for structures such as the open cattle building, and others deemed to be “unfinished.” There would also be a $500 cap on the fee for those types of buildings. The language would define unfinished structures as garages, gazebo’s, sheds, and decks.

If approved by the City Council, language reflecting the change would be included in the City’s Building Code.