KIRKSIVLLE, MO -- It's the price to operate a business in Kirksville and every company is expected to pay. It could be10-cents. It may be 100 dollars. Depending on what the business does, that’s the cost of a license.

Every business in the City of Kirksville is expected to renew their license by the beginning of March each year.

But, this year some non-compliant businesses are providing a challenge for the city.

“This is the first time that we’ve had to go to the extremes we’ve had to go to.  Where we’ve actually had to threaten to take them to court,” said Kirksville City Manager Mari Macomber.

And threats have become reality for the Washington Street Java Company and the Non-Profit Salvation Army Thrift Store.

All businesses still operating without a license were sent a letter in June requiring them to renew their license by July second.

“This is a routine every year. It is not a special circumstance.  These are the things you have to have.  It’s clear cut, we’ve been doing it for years.”

The city has taken both businesses to court. Thursday morning, The Salvation Army Thrift Store received a continuance in municipal court as they try to remedy issues with the city while still operating illegally.

For the Washington Street Java Company, the situation gets more complicated. The corporation P.C. Rentals, which includes Washington Street Java Company and one business that is no longer in operation: Il Spazio, is in debt to the State of Missouri.

The corporation owes more than 51-thousand dollars in back taxes, interest, and penalties.

Because P.C. Rentals can not provide the city with a tax receipt, the company can not be granted a license to operate in Kirksville.

And a local business owner agrees that paying your taxes is an important part of operating a business.

“If you don’t pay your taxes, don’t do business.  Don’t use my money that I’m paying you for sales tax on to operate your business.”

And once P.C. Rentals heads to court with the city on December second, what could become of the popular coffee house?

“My understanding is that the city can file an injunction at some point.  And then, work to make sure the business, as long as it doesn’t have a license, does close it’s doors,” explained Macomber.

We did attempt to contact both the owners of P.C. Rentals and the operator of the Salvation Army Thrift Store.  They declined to speak on the record.