The rules have changed for small business owners who want to operate their businesses out of their homes, rather than spend a big percentage of their profits to rent commercial space.
For years, the Occupational License law has been interpreted by Licensing and Code Enforcement officials to read that the "place of business"— the location where the business is actually being conducted— must be at an address zoned Commercial. That's no longer the case, according to Code Enforcement Director Tom Forbes.
"You can run any kind of business out of your home, or any other location, as long as customer and employee traffic does not bother the neighbors," Forbes told KWTN.
Licensing officials may still want an address zoned Commercial on the Occupational License, but that can be, apparently, a mail drop at any address zoned Commercial, such as the Mail Spot or the Key West Business Center.
Forbes made the new interpretation of the law after learning that former mayoral candidate Charlie Ramos is producing his newspaper, the Morning Star, out of his home at 1401 Duval St., rather than at the mail-drop on Flagler Avenue, the place of business listed on the newspaper's Occupational License.
If you decide to take advantage of this new rule change, tell the Licensing official that you're invoking the "Ramos Rule."
The Key West Police Dept. needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to translate for police dispatchers.
When none of the dispatchers on duty speaks or understands Spanish, the dispatcher can set up a conference call among the dispatcher, the caller and the translator, said Laura White, Communications Division supervisor. "The volunteer would not have to come to the police station," she said. "It's very convenient. And the dispatcher can prompt the volunteer on questions that need to be asked." She said most calls do not last over three minutes.
Persons interested in helping with this interesting, exciting and vital work may call White at 294-2511.
The League of Women Voters of the Lower Keys will sponsor an informational pre-election program on Monday, Nov. 1, from 8-9 p.m. on Channel 5. Half of the program will provide facts and information to assist residents voting for the sewer referendum. The other half will be a forum involving the remaining two candidates in the District 1 run-off for City Commission, Michael Ingram and Tom Oosterhoudt.
The League of Women Voters encourages all voters to take as much interest in this election as they do in other high profile elections. This election is equally as important.