Marshfield Judiciary & License Committee Approves Licensing Changes, Reviews Fee Schedule

By David Ballerstein - Marshfield Now!

MARSHFIELD – The City of Marshfield’s Judiciary & License Committee met Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, addressing a series of business licensing matters, claims, and fee adjustments for 2026.

Routine Business
The meeting opened with no public comments. Committee members unanimously approved the minutes from the August 19, 2025, meeting. They also approved a secondhand jewelry and article license for Annabelle’s, located at 405 South Central Avenue.

Patriot Tower Claim Denied
The committee reviewed a letter from the city’s insurance company regarding a claim related to Patriot Tower. Following the insurer’s recommendation, the committee voted to officially deny the claim, authorizing the city to issue a formal denial letter.

Food Truck Licensing to Shift to Calendar Year
One of the main agenda items was a review of the 2026 business license fee schedule. A significant change was proposed for food truck permits. Currently, licenses run from July 1 to June 30. Committee members voted to transition food truck permits to a calendar year system beginning January 2027, with an annual fee of $100.

To bridge the gap, a transitional six-month license will be offered from July to December 2026 at a reduced fee of $25. Members noted the change was necessary to bring Marshfield in line with neighboring communities and to address fairness concerns raised by brick-and-mortar restaurants, which face significantly higher operational costs compared to food trucks.

Payday Lender Fee Increase
The committee also voted to raise the license fee for payday lenders from $50 to $200, despite noting that the city has not issued such a license in more than a decade. The adjustment was described as a proactive measure to ensure fees are appropriate if an application is ever received.

Other Licensing Fees
Staff reported that most other business license fees remain comparable to surrounding municipalities, and no additional increases were recommended at this time.
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Adjournment
With no further items for discussion, the committee adjourned the meeting.

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