Thursday, March 23, 2006
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Photo Gallery
|
||
Thursday, March 23, 2006 |
||
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Photo Gallery |
|
Building
permits reach 10,000 milestone By SUE
WATSON Developer George Lee, owner of Central Builders of Memphis, bought the 10,000th building permit at the Marshall County Planning Commission office, Monday. The permit was for a home he is building at Kirkwood. Lee purchased three permits, each for a little over $500 each. He has built about 20 houses in Marshall County and remodeled a number of others. Conway Moore, planning commission director, and Elois Finley, were present for the occasion. Moore joined the Planning Commission in 1993. The first permit she issued was on June 1, 1993, for the county’s 3,171st permit, she said. In the first quarter of 2005, 44 permits were issued, Moore said. “So far, we have issued 56 for the first three months this year,” she said. “Last year in March we wrote 18 house permits and this year with George’s three we’ve done 15 in March.” The Planning Commission has issued 17 mobile home permits for the year. Lee said he hopes to be around to take the 11,000th, 12,000th and 13,000th permit. Moore praised Lee for the professionalism he brings to the residential construction and development business in the county. “He’s also a developer and he has high standards for his subdivisions,” Moore said. “He also monitors his subdivision’s covenants and signs off on house plans to make sure they meet minimum requirements (set by the county). He sets good standards (is an example) for people to follow.” Lee noted that the Planning Commission office is a very busy workplace and that at times he thinks the county needs more building code inspectors and trucks. Malcom Poole is the main building inspector, Moore said. Steve Wilson and Terry Culver monitor complaints and do home inspections, also. The largest dollar fee for a new home permit Moore has written is $1,011, she said. A commercial venture recently paid upward of $30,000 for all the permitting fees connected with construction of a facility, Moore said. Some factors contributing to the cost of a permit include the square footage, heating and cooling system, circuit box, plumbing and mechanical fixtures. “All of that determines the cost of a permit,” Moore said. Some recent construction permits the county has issued include Dollar General and Big River Lumber in Barton, Meucci’s retail outlet (selling pool cues and hot tubs), Mid-South Ag Equipment in the Mt. Pleasant area, and a laundry mat in Barton. As people move their homes and businesses to Marshall County, the tax base increases. Although there is a lot of expectation connected with new commercial development at Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park, tax collector Betty Byrd said the county’s tax revenue has grown at a steady pace in recent years. The last two years saw a 4 percent increase in growth. Byrd said new growth has contributed to keeping the millage rate from rising in the 2005-06 year. “We’ve had steady growth at from three to five percent a year,” Byrd said. “Our last (peak growth year) was when the properties were reappraised.” Growth that year peaked at 11 percent, she said. Some businesses and industries that went out of business have not caused as much loss in tax revenue as one might imagine, Byrd said. “As businesses shut down the county has to make up (the revenue). Fortunately, we’re on the growing end,” she said. She noted that much hope is put on the increase in county valuation with development at Chickasaw Trails. But, residential growth is what usually builds the tax base the quickest, she said. “We are taught at every seminar that if you get the rooftops, everything else will follow,” Byrd said. Report News:
(662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Web Site
managed and maintained by |
   |
