Chairman Mark Bishop told the County Commissioners Monday night that he felt Ocoee Mountain Club and its contractors may need to get business licenses in Polk County. He said he had talked with Property Assessor Randy Yates, who was having trouble collecting personal property tax, as well as County Clerk Angie Sanford who had trouble with business licenses.

Sanford told the board that anyone from a county in Tennessee other than Polk had to get a business license if business of over $50,000 was being done. Anyone from out of state is required to get a license; anyone in Polk County with a business is required to have a license.

“These people are making money in our county and it’s the law. The need to put revenue back into the county,” Bishop said. Bishop asked the commission to authorize County Executive Mike Stinnett to take whatever steps were necessary.

Attorney Jimmy Logan told the board a notice could be send from either Sanford or Stinnett that they would file an application for a cease and desist if they continued to operate without licenses. Licenses are required for the both the developer and contractors.

Sanford said she would love to send notices, but she did not know who to send the notices to. Benton Mayor Jerry Stephens said Paul Fetzner was the developer and that Hamilton Construction out of Athens was doing some work. He had a sewer inspector at the property and might be able to find some additional names.

In other business, commissioners voted to appoint Robert Coffey and Roger Thomason to the Copper Basin Utilities Board. The motion was made by Daniel Deal and seconded by Kevin Stephens. Wanda Cheek and Daren Waters voted no. Pippenger initially passed on the vote, but later changed his vote to yes.

The commission also agreed to re-classify the Youth Services Officer Assistant in order to continue receive grant money to pay for the position.

Fred Wilcoxon and Greg Brooks were absent.