Salt Lake City Permit Fees Increase!

Salt Lake City Permit Fees Increase!

Can you imagine a City Council Meeting where an increase in Permit Fees was proposed and almost everyone in attendance broke into applause. That show of overwhelming support was part of the Salt Lake City Council Meeting held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009. The Parks and Service Bureau proposed a increase in various permit fees. Denise Richards, who had been on the parks and service bureau for over four years, explained that the permit fees would mainly go up on special services, while the more common permit fees will stay the same. Building Permit fees would not go up but the cost of services would go up by 7% and all "forms of structure work will stay the same... no commercial or residential building permit fees will go up."

Even those that will be affected the most by the permit fee increase applauded the proposal. Simon Thompson who owns a small architecture business was "heartedly for the whole proposal" he added, "you don't get many commercial businesses that would say that about a fee increase".

But why would everyone be in favor a paying more for something? The Parks Bureau explained that they needed this increase to try and avoid any layoffs for any of their employees so that they can do their job as efficiently as possible and help the economy stay on its feet. Simon explained that especially working in architecture the faster he can get his permits the better everyone will be. He also explained that the fee increase would affect the more specialized work and the commercial respects a fee increase for those forms of services.

This seems to be a great example of how all the people in Salt Lake in all forms of industry are trying to keep this economy going strong amidst hard times.

Give a Man a Fish You Feed Him For a Day Teach a Man to Fish You Feed Him For a Life Time

There cannot be a worse feeling in the world than having to tell your children that you wont be able to eat that night because you have no money. Danisio DeLuz was forced to live through that time and time
again.

Danisio DeLuz is a 32 year old with a wife and a baby living on the island of Sao Vicente in the country of Cape Verde 500 miles off the coast of West Africa. He was struggling with no job and no way of providing for his family.

Although Danisio had no job opportunities in front of him he was directed to a free course that would help him start his own business with a micro loan of $1,000. While that may not seem like a lot in America it is more than enough in Africa.

The free course helped Danisio focus on the skills he already had. In his previous work experience Danisio expressed a skill he had in making fiberglass. It was something he already knew how to do and loved doing it. The course helped him understand how to incorporate his already known skills into his own business. They also helped him see that while there were already companies on his island that made fiberglass he could create his new business in fiberglass boat repairs, which his island sorely needed.

After completing five week coarse Danisio created his small business called "Fibribot Conserti" right off the harbor with the money from his micro loan. Within one year he had paid back the micro loan and within two years he became one of the biggest boat repair shops in the country.

Danisio is just one of the examples of how the right kind of humanitarian aid can go a long way.