Hammond waives late-license fees for several small businesses after hearings

Hammond city council held late-license hearings for multiple small businesses and approved waiver requests for late fees after staff recommendations.

Sam McHale, owner of Goomba Pizza, said he opened the location in January 2025 and closed it in December 2025 and mistakenly believed license renewal deadlines were in January 2026; staff recommended waiving the late fee and council approved the waiver. William Acevedo, owner of All Heating & Air Conditioning, explained confusion over contractor licensing versus business licensing; council waived late fees for the two years noted.

Tommy Coleman, owner of House Calls Incorporated, said he experienced the same contractor-versus-business-license confusion and the council approved a waiver. Platonia Stingley Barnes joined by Zoom to represent Shining Star Kids and said the business closed in December 2025; staff recommended waiving the late fee but required payment of the base $105 registration, which the council approved to proceed. D'Angela Charter, owner of Little Bouncers Childcare, said she closed in March 2025; staff recommended and council approved waiving fees for 2026 while noting the 2025 fee remained payable.

Council indicated these waivers were granted as case-specific relief for first-year or closure-related confusion and said similar requests would be handled on a case-by-case basis in the future.