Magnolia Bible Church Pastor Scot Wall approached the Magnolia City Council at its regular meeting Dec. 14 in hopes that the council would consider reducing the cost of the fees his church is paying to build a new facility on Nichols Sawmill.

Wall claims that he was told his water tap fees would be $10,000, which he thought to be high. After speaking with Council to lower the tap fee, he was notified about additional fees which he said he was unaware of. The fees now total to more than $54,000, which include a plan check for $11,942.29, a permit for $23,884.59, tap connection, which were reduced to $3,700 and impact fees for $15,000.

In a letter to the Council, Wall asked that the city reduce the fees because they negatively impact the community and hinder future growth. He also asked that Council consider the church’s recent donation of a roadway for Sixth Street, Yellow House and Crepe Myrtle trees.

Wall says these items were donated out of goodwill. The Yellow House had many prospective buyers, Wall said, but the city had asked if they could have it.

“It was a huge pain to get rid of the Yellow House,” he added.

City Secretary Lynne George said the city staff does not have the authority to lower the fees, nor can the city absorb the costs. City Council would need to have an open meeting to review or amend any costs.

The revenue obtained through the fees, she added, is used to pay contractors, inspectors and engineers. George also stated that the city is unable to calculate the fees until the final plans have been submitted.

“We always tell people not to calculate their own fees,” George said.

Wall said the church has a building committee, architect and engineer that created a budget and information about the fees was provided by the city through meetings with those groups.

City Administrator Paul Mendes said impact fees are the only fees that are saved in a repair and replacement fund for future projects, such as expansion or repairs.

Mendes said this is only part of the story. 

“It was goodwill letting them move forward on site work and piping prior to getting a permit,” Mendes said.

In addition, Mendes said it cost the city nearly $30,000 to move the Yellow House and $1,800 to move the Crepe Myrtle trees, which saved the church from having to destroy the house and trees while clearing the land.

“We are not charging them any more (than other builders) so we can’t provide them with any variance,” Mendes said. “We have to be even-handed.”

Wall suggested that if the city were worried about other prospective builders asking for special treatment, the city should consider if they had donated things to the city such as the Magnolia Bible Church has.

“They are trying to squeeze as much as they can out of the few businesses here,” Wall said.

City Council will need to put the cost of fees back on the agenda for discussion at a future meeting should they decide to consider cost changes.

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