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UNION — The three-month period that began in June and ended in August was especially busy for the City of Union Planning Department which issued nearly 900 business licenses and collected more than $470,000 in fees.

In its report to Union City Council for the month of August, the planning department reported issuing 153 business licenses and collecting $53,869.57 in fees. In July, the department issued 488 business licenses and collected $346,860.43 in fees. In June, the department issued 255 business licenses and collected $73,696.67 in fees.

By contrast, the department issued only 24 business licenses and collected only $1,604.90 in fees in May.

The increase that occurred between May and June and continued into July and August is due primarily to the large number of renewals the department traditionally issues at mid-year. June and July are the months that most existing businesses in the city renew their licenses.

As a result of this increased activity, the department issued a total of 896 business licenses and collected $474,426.67 in fees between the beginning of June and the end of August.

Building Permits

Also during those months, the department issued a total of 365 building permits for and collected $10,523 in fees on commercial and residential repair and new construction with a combined value of $1,669,850.

In its report to council for August, the department reported issuing 105 building permits for and collecting $2,917 in fees on commercial and residential repair projects with a combined value of $451,797. In June, the department issued 156 permits and collected $4,281 in fees on commercial and residential repair projects with a combined value of $708,460. In July, it issued 104 permits and collected $3,325 in fees on commercial and residential repair projects with a combined value of $509,593.

During May, the department issued 147 permits for and collected $4,172.50 in fees on residential repair and installation projects with a combined value of $727,135.

A building department official said that the large number of permits the department has issued over the past four months are mainly for the repair of damages caused by the hail storm that occurred in April.

The projects in August included:

• Three building permits for $160 on $30,600 in commercial repairs.

• Eighty-one building permits for $2,560 on $373,231 in residential repairs.

• One building permit for $15 on $1,400 worth of signage.

• One electrical permit for $53.50 on a new commercial project worth $400.

• Three electrical permits for $45 on $4,000 worth of commercial repairs.

• Three electrical permits for $45 on $1,300 worth residential repairs.

• Three heating/air conditioning permits for $160 on $18,800 in new commercial projects.

• Two heating/air conditioning permits for $45 on a new residential project worth $4,100.

• Four commercial occupancy permits.

• One plumbing permit for $18.50 on a commercial repair project worth $5,000.

• Three plumbing permits for $60 on $12,966 in residential repairs.

Inspections

The department also conducted one rezoning, four building inspections, nine electrical inspections, two plumbing inspections, and four heating/air conditioning inspections.

In addition, the department conducted all regular building, mechanical, electrical, gas and plumbing inspections. The department also took pictures of nuisances, posted properties, patrolled the city every day for business license and code violations, and picked up illegal signs posted within the city’s municipal limits.

Meetings

There were also two on-site meetings with property owners and/or contractors as follows ups to complaints.

Demolitions

The department also reported one demolition in process at 117 W. Main St. (the Old Bridal Shop) by the owner.

Letters

The department issued 26 nuisance and code violation letters for overgrown grass, abandoned vehicles, signs and condemned structures.