Merchants seek clarification of license requirements

Brundidge merchants were unclear on the city's request for a listing of businesses that make deliveries to their workplaces and asked for a meeting to clarify the issue.

Lamar Steed, president of the Brundidge Business Association, said several merchants contacted him about the license requirements for persons delivering merchandise, products and services to businesses within the city.

"I didn't have all the answers they wanted, so, at our last BBA meeting, we thought it would be best to ask city officials to meet with us in a question and answer session," Steed said. "Britt Thomas (city manager) and Essam Ahmad (license inspector) met with us Monday and I think everyone came away with an understanding of the requirements and the reason for them."

Ahmad said anyone who makes deliveries in the city is required to have a delivery license that carries a fee of $55 a year.

"The exception to that is anyone who is covered under the Motor Carrier Act," Ahmad said. "That's a federal interstate commerce act and those under it are not required to have an additional license."

Ahmad said Brundidge is not the only city that requires a delivery license.

"Most cities, including Troy and Ozark, require a license," Ahmad said.

The concern most business owners had was not with the license fee but with their being asked to supply a list.

"Providing us with a list of companies that conduct delivery business in Brundidge was voluntary," Ahmad said. "The list would help us make sure that everyone doing delivery business in Brundidge had a license. It was just a double-check for us."

Ahmad said without a list, he would be responsible for being the eyes on the street that watch for deliveries and then check to make sure the company or individuals have a license.

Steed agreed that merchants didn't seem to have a problem with the license fee only the list they were asked to provide.

"I think the main concern there was that some people make so few deliveries to a business that they might stop delivery if they were required to buy a license," Steed said. " But I think the questions were answered to the satisfaction of, maybe not everyone, but most everyone."

Ahmad estimated that the city could potentially collect from as many as 700 delivery businesses in 2003.

"That's based on last year," Ahmad said. "If a business has four or five companies that deliver to them and only one or two buy a license, then the city is losing money."