Council Reviews Licensing Ordinance Change, Shifting Approvals to City Manager

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council held a first reading Monday night on an ordinance that would shift approval authority for several business licenses from the council to the city manager or a designated staff member.

Chief Financial Officer Kristen Bobzien told the council the change is intended to streamline routine licensing while keeping all existing background checks and requirements in place.

“None of the processes to get to that point of approval change,” Bobzien said. “We would still be checking everything that we normally are.”

The ordinance also updates the appeal process for denied licenses.

“We put in the same language that we currently follow for taxi cab licenses,” Bobzien said. “It’s a safeguard to the applicant so it’s not just a final ‘you don’t get it.’”

Councilman Michael Heuer asked whether any current licenses already use this administrative approval model.

Bobzien confirmed that several do.

“The taxi cab license is approved by the finance officer, and our contractor permits are approved by Community Development,” she said. “Cannabis licenses are also administratively approved.”

The ordinance will return for a second reading at a future meeting.

Ordinance No. 26-04.pdf

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