MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) – Downtown business owners and the city council could be at odds over a new ordinance.
A city councilman wants businesses to pay $500 a month for a dumpster permit. The idea isn't going over well.
“If we keep a small city mentality, we'll always be looked upon as a small city,” said interim city councilman, Berlin Boyd.
Boyd has a big plan for Memphis, plans that could cost downtown business owners big bucks.
“As you know in any major city it costs to do business,” Boyd told abc24.com.
It will cost restaurants like those that line Main Street in downtown Memphis $500 a month, all for a dumpster permit, basically a rental space. That's on top of private fees they pay for removal.
“Well that seems a little excessive,” said Patrick Reilly.
Reilly is the owner of the Majestic Grille and a member of the Memphis Restaurant Association. He told abc24.com the proposed ordinance is just another way to bleed businesses dry.
“A lot of our members are downtown and they have dumpsters on the street. I mean the last thing we need in this economy is more taxation which is basically what this is going to end up being,” said Reilly.
Boyd denies it’s about taxation.
“The only think I'm trying to do is create an environment that is conducive for our citizens, our tourists, so visitors to downtown will have a nice clean place to hang out,” Boyd told abc24.com.
However, he admits the extra income would be a financial boost for the city.
