Building, maintenance codes adopted by council
Red Oak’s city council voted to adopt building and maintenance codes for the city at a meeting last week.
The topic of adopting the international maintenance and building codes has been on the council’s agenda since April, but council members finally took action last week.
By a vote of 3-1, the third reading of the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code was approved. Councilman Bill Haufle, who has expressed his concern over inspections every three years for rentals in the past, voted against the reading. Councilman Scott Keith was not present.
Bryce VanHouten, a Red Oak landlord, was present at the meeting to voice his concern over the public’s knowledge of the codes. He said he had spoken to several people who thought the codes only applied to rental properties, but in fact, apply to owner-occupied homes as well.
“I don’t think the people of Red Oak were properly informed of this code,” VanHouten said.
He said the people he spoke to were told the codes did not apply to them because they were not rental property owners.
City Administrator Brad Wright said the confusion might have come about with the three-year inspection certificate. He said owner-occupied homes can be subject to inspection if they seem like unfit living conditions, but will not be required to have an inspection every three years like rental properties. Wright also said he believes the public has had several opportunities to be informed on this subject.
“I think the public has probably had more opportunity to be aware of what’s going on with this subject than with any subject this council’s ever talked about,” Wright said. “With all the meetings we’ve had and the coverage in the paper, I think they’ve had more [than enough] opportunity to be aware if they wanted to.”
After the third reading and discussion, the council voted to adopt the codes. Again, the motion carried with a 3-1 vote, with Haufle voting against it.
The council then voted to approve the second readings of the 2009 edition of the International Building Code and the 2009 International Residential Code. These both passed unanimously.
The council decided to forego the third reading and voted to adopt these codes at the same time as the maintenance code. The adoption was approved by a 4-0 vote.
The fee structure, which presented a fee in which the Southwest Iowa Planning Council and the City of Red Oak each took a percentage, was voted on next. This was passed by a 3-1 vote, with councilman Roger Waggener voting no.
“I just wasn’t happy with the rates and fees. I didn’t think there was enough discussion,” Waggener said. “I think there should be more discussion [about the rates] and I hope they don’t just throw it on [the agenda] again.”
The resolution to establish a fee structure failed when voted on, with Haufle and Waggener voting against it to make a split vote.
Wright said the original plan was to have applications for rental permits to city officials in July and inspections would begin in October, but the council will have to approve a fee structure first.
The fee structure and resolution to adopt it will be on the agenda for the June 29 meeting.