Council gears up rental inspections
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The Mount Ayr City Council took the next step in beefing up the city’s rental housing inspection practices by approving an agreement with a property inspection consulting firm.
The city agreed to a contract with Iowa Inspections, LLC out of Ackworth to assist the city in “establishing and facilitating a Rental Housing Inspection Program.”
An outline of the proposal will have the company supply template materials to the city to establish the program, including a property checklist, landlord training video and a template for city ordinance and policies.
It also will provide up to three public landlord meetings annually; conduct four three-hour sessions to train an inspector and clerk; consultation services initiated by the city; and provide conflict resolution, court appearances and mediation services.
The start-up fee for the program is $3,500 and there is a monthly retainer for at least six months at $500 per month.
Jason VanAusdall of Iowa Inspections told the council that the program is designed to help property owners make the necessary minimum repairs and upkeep to satisfy the ordinance. He envisioned rolling the program out and giving landlords up to a year to bring their properties into compliance.
Should landowner property not pass the rental inspection, the proposal outlines what steps the city takes to bring the property into compliance.
One of the goals of the program according to VanAusdall is to protect people that may not be able to protect themselves and are living in substandard housing units.
Currently, absent a city ordinance, a renter would have to take a landlord to court as a civil matter to correct any property deficiencies.
VanAusdall also said the program puts requirements on renters to occupy the property in a safe and legal manner.
Street Maintenance Project
The council reviewed a proposal by Blacktop Services Co. of Humboldt to address some of the street problems by laying down asphalt on some of the worse sections and coming back the next year an chip/seal those areas.
The proposal outlined a number of streets in the city at a total estimated cost of $205,000. The city has about $192,000 it can spend on the project.
Council members discussed what options they may have to “tweak” the proposal, perhaps to do more cement work at the fire station. Eventually, the city decided to ask Blacktop Services to come back with a cost per foot, rather than per street, so adjustments might be made.
Other Council Action
In other council actions:
• Held the Public Hearing on adopting the budget beginning July 1. There were no public comments. The budget was then approved.
• Entered into an agreement with Veenstra & Kimm, an engineering firm, to help apply for a federal loan for Hazard Mitigation Scoping Grant Wastewater Facility Protection. The loan would help stabilize a creek near the wastewater plant so that it doesn’t eventually hamper operations of the facility.
• Discussed the Downtown Revitalization Project with Veenstra & Kimm. The council voted to continue to work on the project.
• Forgave two CDBG Housing Sustainability Award loans due to one recipient being deceased and the other in a nursing home.
• Voted to add Assistant City Clerk Mari Hughes and remove former clerk Amanda Cannon to check signing privileges for the city.
• Approved a Retail Cigarette/Tobacco/Nicotine Vapor permit for Caseys and a Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for the Ringgold Count Fair Association.
• Added a new Little League Coach and girl’s minor league team.
• Hired former City Clerk Amanda Cannon to a 30-day consulting agreement to help train her replacement at city hall.
• Approved the purchase of a new mower.
• Heard an update on the city’s liability insurance program.
