In a move aimed to better protect local business owners, the Pella City Council approved increased fees for peddlers operating in the community.

City Administrator Mike Nardini says the ordinance was adopted in part because of equity between transient merchants who come to town and those with brick-and-mortar locations.

“We’re talking about folks that come in that may do part time sales during the summertime,” Nardini says. “It’s becoming an extremely popular ever in the city of Pella. The issue at hand is that some of these folks are competing with directly with businesses.

“From staff’s standpoint, we wanted to look back and look at the fees and make sure there was not an equity issues, that there was fairness and in particular for the businesses that currently operate here year round.”

Those fees for the traveling businesses have increased to $25 for a daily permit, $75 per week,and up to $300 for six months.

Nardini says those fees are comparable to nearby communities as well.