Council hears more on business licenses

The Berryville City Council heard more from Mayor Tim McKinney at the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 16 about McKinney’s suggestion that the city begin requiring business licenses.

McKinney, who first raised the subject at the council’s Dec. 2 meeting, said he met with other city officials to discuss ideas for implementing the licenses.

“We do feel like this will give us a better connection to our business community, and we’re going to try to make it where it can be something for them, too,” McKinney said. “We’ll look at discounts for our facilities to rent and different things to do.”

Council member Jason Williams said the idea of requiring business licenses has been discussed for years.

“It’s a way to track the businesses that are in business in town,” Williams said. “… But as a business owner, I do have some thoughts on this that I might want to share with you later to kind of form this.”

McKinney said new businesses frequently asked about business licenses.

“It’s pretty common in most areas,” Williams said. “We just don’t have one here.”

McKinney said the license fee will not be exorbitant.

“We’re going to keep it down to a level where it won’t be burdensome or anything,” he said.

“Well, you know, the state wants $150 a year for the privilege of me having a business,” Williams said. “It adds up, especially for the little hometown businesses that are supporting soccer clubs and the music department and the school. Something has to come out of the budget at some point because you can’t just keep giving out. I’d say just as long as we can keep it at a minimal (amount) to cover the expense of doing it or something would be probably be the goal.”

“That’s what we’re wanting to do,” McKinney said.

The Berryville City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at City Hall.