Business license proposal gets OK on 1st reading

Editor’s Note: Artificial intelligence software was used to assist in compiling this report.

The Berryville City Council approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 3, that would require businesses operating within the city limits to obtain an annual business license, with fees based on the number of employees.

City attorney Clint Scheel read the proposed ordinance in full during the meeting, outlining a proposed fee schedule of $25 for businesses with one to five employees, $50 for those with six to 19 employees, $100 for those with 20 to 49 employees, $150 for those with 50 to 99 employees and $200 for businesses with 100 or more employees. The ordinance would make the licenses due July 1, and annually thereafter, while also requiring applications, compliance with city codes and, for new businesses, a fire and life safety inspection before a license is issued.

After the reading, Mayor Tim McKinney thanked those involved in shaping the proposal.

“Thank you all for all your work and patience on this,” McKinney said. “I think getting the kinks worked out before you bring it to the table works a lot better than trying to do it the other way.” The proposed ordinance would apply to businesses and commercial enterprises with physical locations inside the city, including home-based businesses. It also lists exemptions for transient vendors and peddlers, the Berryville Farmers’ Market and garage or yard sales, while churches, nonprofits, government entities, schools, landlords and individual real estate agents within brokerages could choose to apply voluntarily.

The ordinance also includes penalties for delinquent payments and states that a business license could be revoked for code violations. Businesses that continue operating after notice could face misdemeanor charges and fines, according to the proposal.

Council members approved the measure on first reading without extended discussion after Scheel completed the reading.

Earlier in the meeting, city officials formally kicked off planning for Berryville’s 150th anniversary celebration, which economic development director Dean Lee said is intended to be a yearlong, community-wide effort.

“It is exciting,” Lee said. “ You only have a 150th birthday once. If we want it to be big, we have to make it big and so that’s what we’re trying to do and tonight is the official kickoff.”

Lee unveiled an anniversary logo and said the city plans to promote the sesquicentennial through billboards, merchandise, sponsorships and special events that could continue through the annual Christmas parade.

“We want this to be a community-wide event,” Lee said. “We want them to participate.”

Among the events discussed were a “Night at the Museum” for sponsors on April 9, a Founders Day observance centered on a re-enactment of the coin toss that determined Berryville’s name, and a “Builders of Berryville Awards Celebration” honoring long-standing local businesses.

Lee said the city hopes to use the occasion not only to celebrate Berryville’s past, but also to draw broader community involvement.

“It’d be a good time for any of us to engage this community,” McKinney said, adding that events coordinator Julia Borkowski “is doing a good job.”

Lee said organizers want residents to embrace the celebration and help make it memorable.

“We just hope people will embrace it, and we want it to be a family, community-wide activities and events, and you know, we’ll keep it going,” he said.

In other business, the council approved dates for the city’s 2026 spring cleanup, approved submission of unaudited year-end water system reports required for a USDA loan, and granted a request to allow petitioners to use the square as long as they do not interfere with public events.

The next regular meeting of the Berryville City Council will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at City Hall.