Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Town of Berlin formally established an annexation request fee of $515 in the municipality’s planning and general fee schedule.

Officials said that previously, no fee was specified when a property owner submitted a request for annexation. Per the Berlin Town Council’s approval, the price of $515 will now be added to the fee schedule, which is the same as the ‘Zoning Change/Rezoning Hearing.’

Town Administration Mary Bohlen said that the lack of an explicit fee was simply an “oversight,” as “it’s not often that a property owner comes to the town seeking annexation.” As such, the rate was never included, but now, those who come forward with such a request will be required to pay the rate in addition to their application.

The payment covers costs associated with the administration review of the ask, staff time, and materials. The price will be reviewed in the next few months when the fee schedule is reviewed for inflationary adjustments.

Furthermore, Bohlen added that she is in the process of implementing a more formal application process for these kinds of inquiries, as currently, the petitions are simply letters of interest.

“I am in the process of developing a more formal process so that it’s clearer to everyone, the town, the staff, as well as the applicant what the process is,” she said.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall added that the town’s work to onboard Ryan Hardesty, the municipality’s new planning director who assumed the role last month, taught them the process starts with the letter of interest but requires the council to refer it to the planning commission.

Councilmember Shaneka Nichols stressed that just because this rate is in place, simply paying it is not the same as approval. Bohlen maintained that the fee is for merely processing the annexation application.

“If someone jumped to that conclusion, they would be very wrong,” Tyndall said. “There are a number of things that have to happen.”

Bohlen noted that language has been added to some request forms stating, “submission of this application is not approval.” This will likely be included in the formal annexation appeal.

The council unanimously approved the inclusion of the annexation request rate in the Town of Berlin Planning and General Fee Schedule at its Monday, March 10 meeting.