Eight Perry business licenses canceled

At their regular meeting on June 16, Perry Mayor and Council held a public hearing for the purpose of the revocation and non-issuance of business licenses for eight businesses: Befit Perry Ga., BNB Barber Shop, Dominant Pest Solutions, Farm Fresh, Mary’s Private Helping Hands Care, The Conversation Piece and More LLC, Elegant Beauty Supply, and Fortune Studios.

City Manager, Lee Gilmour, explained at the pre-council meeting on the same date, that the businesses in question held business licenses in 2019, but had not renewed those licenses for the year of 2020, and because these businesses had not yet renewed or advised that they would no longer be operating a business, the hearing served as an opportunity to give explanation. Gilmour informed that all of the business had been notified of the business license requirements multiple times, and later added the various businesses have been informed of the opportunity to come before council and present reason as to why they may or may not be able to continue to have a business license.

During the hearing, the name of each business was called independently and representatives were given the opportunity to speak for or against, before moving on to the next business. No one spoke for or against any of the businesses in question during the hearing.

During the pre-council session, Gilmour indicated, in the event that a business was in operation without a business license, the business would be advised to cease and desist and they would be scheduled to come before council and give explanation. Gilmour clarified for Mayor Pro Tempore Willie King that there could potentially be fines and charges involved if the business was continually operated without license from the city.

Council later unanimously voted in favor of cancellation and non-issuance of these licenses.

In other business, council voted on the acceptance of a donation of greenspace from Cherokee Pecan Company in the amount of 3.14 acres. City Attorney Brooke Newby recounted that this issue had come before council previously. During Monday evening’s work session, council was presented with a revised site plan for this property. Plans for the previously opposed infrastructure had been redesigned. In this site plan, stormwater drainage would be piped underground and to a retention facility that would not be located on the donated parcel located on the Stonebridge subdivision. There was also a fenced pump station located which was accepted by council. The site would have water and sewer infrastructure located below ground as well as a street located on the parcel.

The resolution to accept this offer, subject to construction and installation of city infrastructure, was approved unanimously.

Also to come before council was a resolution adopting greenspace criteria for the city. At Monday’s work session, council discussed a proposed policy that defined the different types of greenspaces within the city, which included pocket parks (which primarily serve the surrounding neighborhood and have no parking), passive parks (which have limited parking), greenspaces (which are not maintained by the city and are generally left in their natural state), and destination parks (which have large amount of parking and serve events). The decision was made that the only destination parks could be rented, with the exception of passive parks in the event that council permitted that an event be held in that location. This policy was adopted unanimously.

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