AHOSKIE – One-half equals one-half.

That’s the logic members of the Ahoskie Town Council applied Tuesday morning to a request from a local business owner.

In a unanimous vote, Council members sided with Hertford Business Center and prorated their privilege license fee for 2012/2013. Hertford Business Center, located at the former location of Swain’s Tile on US 13 South, opened approximately four months ago as an internet gaming operation.

Ahoskie Town Manager Tony Hammond said the owners of the business requested their privilege license fee for the current year at a prorated amount since they just recently opened.

“This fee applies for a full year, from July 1 until June 30,” Hammond told the Council members. “I asked for the opinion of the (North Carolina) School of Government and they informed me that a fee can be prorated only if the Council approves the request.”

Hammond said based on the number of gaming machines (100) in use at Hertford Business Center, their privilege license fee is $75,000 annually.

“That means they will pay that fee for only four months and then the same fee starting for a full year on July 1,” Hammond noted. “Hertford Business Center is requesting a prorated amount to cover six months ($37,500) based on the number of machines and services offered at their time of application for a privilege license.”

“I feel it’s a fair request since they have not been in business that long,” said Councilman Malcolm Copeland.

Councilman Winfred Hardy motioned to approve the request. Copeland offered a second and the measure was approved by a 4-0 vote with Councilwoman Linda Blackburn absent from Tuesday’s meeting due to an illness.