Tyrone leaders vowed last week

not to vote on impact fees for the new county jail until questions are

answered.

They'll look for some of those answers at the next Town Council meeting,

Sept. 21.

During Thursday's council meeting, Town Manager Barry Amos told the council

the impact fee has several different categories.

Each new residence would pay a $794 impact fee toward the $25 million

construction cost of the new jail. New retail businesses would pay according

to their size, he added.

Retail businesses under 50,000 square feet would pay $4,331 toward the

jail, while larger businesses would pay $8,600.

The retail categories drew the most ire from the council. Councilman Ray

Bogenschutz complained that a small florist that wanted to occupy a 2,000-sq.

ft. building would be paying the same as a large grocery store.

"Smaller businesses are being discouraged," he said.

Council members had asked that another category with businesses under

10,000 square feet be added to the impact fee schedule, but Amos said

he was not successful in convincing the county.

"They said it would not be enforceable," he said.

The council also wanted it made clear that if Tyrone approves the fee,

the 3 percent administrative fee would remain in Tyrone, instead of being

sent to the county and waiting for a rebate.

Instead of discussing it at length, the council voted unanimously to invite

County Commission Chairman Harold Bost or a representative to the council

meeting Sept. 21 to answer some of their questions.