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Falk Wants Fees Waived for Citizens (Update on Response to Severe Weather in Dane County Wednesday, August 24, 2005, 3:00 p.m.)

August 24, 2005
Lesley Sillaman, Office of the County Executive, 608/267-8823 Stoughton Area Tornado Reference 0824-01
County Executive

Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Damage Assessment teams will continue their damage assessment and walk through of the storm damaged areas. The data they collect will be compiled and submitted in support of securing a presidential disaster declaration. At the direction of Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, county staff are drafting a resolution to exempt zoning permit fees for residents whose homes have to be rebuilt as a result of the tornado. The fees, which have a base fee and an additional amount based on square footage, are assessed to any new structure or addition to an existing structure. The fees are assessed and collected through the Zoning Division of the Dane County Planning & Development Department. In addition, Falk has directed staff to draft a second resolution waiving environmental health fees for residents rebuilding or replacing tornado-damaged homes. These fees include those for permits for new sewage systems or new wells, sampling water for well tests, permits to reconnect intact sewage systems to rebuild homes, and plan reviews for new sewage systems (if residents choose a state review for such plans, the county cannot waive those fees). The Division of Public Health, specifically the Environmental Health staff within Dane County’s Department of Human Services, are responsible for these services. “In these difficult times, each small thing we can do to make life a little easier for our neighbors helps,” said Falk. “Hopefully by eliminating these zoning and sanitary fees, we can take a couple of concerns off the minds of the victims of the tornado.” The resolutions will be introduced at the next County Board meeting, scheduled for Thursday, September 1st, and are subject to approval by the Board and approval of the County Executive.
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