Downtown Elgin food stores will get rebate

Trying to make up for fee increases they think are unfair, Elgin council members voted Wednesday night to offer a rebate to the downtown food service establishments that have already paid their 2011 food handling permit fees.

Mayor Ed Schock requested the discussion Wednesday after hearing complaints about rapidly rising permit fees.

Elgin set its own permit fees in 2009 and collected $82,000, according to Colleen Lavery, Elgin’s chief financial officer. The estimated collection for 2011 is $236,000.

Lavery said most of that increase is due to rising fees, not more businesses paying them.

Elgin raised its food handling fees in 2010 and again in 2011 because Kane County requested the city do so to come in line with the county fee, which ranges this year from $500 to $850 based on the size and type of business.

“Fees are supposed to reflect our cost,” Schock said. “Whether that makes us commensurate with the county or not, we shouldn’t charge more than it costs us.”

Schock proposed an immediate rebate to downtown businesses for the difference between the 2011 fee and the 2009 fee, as well as a user fee study to find out how to bring charges in line with inspection costs.

The rebate will cost the city a little less than $10,000, Lavery said. There are 391 businesses that paid the 2010 fee and all but 54 have already renewed their permits for this year.

Some council members objected to the solitary focus on downtown businesses.

Councilman Dave Kaptain said the fee increase went into effect for businesses citywide.

“It’s not been good for any business in town,” Kaptain said.

Councilman John Prigge, along with Schock and Councilman John Steffen, referenced the construction that has further injured downtown businesses because of limited visibility, accessibility and mess.

“We’ve been kicking the downtown for three to four years with construction,” Prigge said.

The council ultimately approved the zoned rebate as well as the study, with hopes of lessening the fee burden on all businesses once the results are in.

Discussing the food handling permit fee also allowed council members to bring up other ideas concerning fees.

Councilman Mike Warren suggested streamlining the inspection process as well as condensing fee paperwork. Steffen raised the idea of cross-training inspectors to conduct multiple inspections at once. And Prigge advocated rewards for good behavior rather than a solitary focus on punishments for permit violations.