Forest Avenue permit extension approved

The Red Oak City Council has approved a permit extension for 1700 Forest Ave., the residence of Ken Shauen and Kelli Confer.
Under guidance from the council at the May 24 city council meeting, Schauen submitted a formal request for a permit extension until December, which was before the council for a vote.
Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius said the council, at the prior meeting, was in support of extending the deadline to December.
At the May 15 meeting, Schauen highlighted two properties that were well past their building permit deadlines that had not received a lapsed building permit notice. Councilperson Jeanice Lester noted action needed to be taken.
“I do think we need to go after the other buildings. What’s fair is fair, and I don’t know how many are out there beyond the two Schauen mentioned, but they need to be under the same guidelines. I can think of a couple that have been building forever,” Lester said.
Silvius advised Lester and the rest of the council that action against those buildings was underway.
Councilperson Brian Bills asked how much was left to complete on the project, and whether he could meet the proposed December deadline. Schauen felt the time frame was feasible.
“We have a little more work on the outside and the inside. I’d have more information, but the guy from Southwest Iowa Inspection is currently on vacation, and we’re still waiting to hear back from the state on the electrical inspection. For safety, I just made out the permit to the end of the year, as was discussed at the prior meeting,” advised Schauen.
The extension was unanimously approved by the council.