Rental housing ordinance advances
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 discussed next year’s sesquicentennial celebration and a rental housing ordinance with revised fee structure at their regular meeting Wednesday, October 16.
Sesquicentennial Agreement
Sesquicentennial planning committee members Korbie Rinehart and Lywanda Case were present to request that the city act as the fiscal agent for the upcoming celebration.
The request was made in order to operate under the city’s insurance policy, which would help the planning committee move forward with securing various event agreements.
By using the city as the fiscal agent, grants could also be sought and they would be able to claim 501c3 or tax exempt status.
The council learned dates have been set, and the planning committee is already working on booking entertainment for September 19-21, 2025.
Rather than hosting Ayr Days or the Raider Festival next year, The Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce and Ringgold Outdoor Alliance are combining resources with a volunteer group of roughly 20 people to host a grand 150 year celebration.
“We’ll do all the work on behalf of the city,” stated Rinehart.
The council gave verbal approval to work together, in order to submit a special event application to the city’s insurance company.
The council will revisit the topic and make a more formal decision at their next meeting, after the insurance company application is completed.
Public forum
Several landlords were present during the public forum, but Nicole McGinnis was the sole speaker to address the proposed rental housing ordinance.
McGinnis called attention to the dangerous buildings, chapter 145 city ordinance, suggesting that the rental housing ordinance would just be redundant.
“I feel like chapter 145 would give the city the means necessary to do what they need to do,” said McGinnis.
“I think it’s silly to put another thing into place that is not going to be properly enforced as the nuisance ordinances are not enforced at this point,” McGinnis claimed.
She also expressed concern about having enough staff to take care of current city matters.
“I don’t think adding another thing to that workload is going to be a responsible thing to do,” stated McGinnis.
Rental Housing Ordinance
After seeking legal guidance from the city’s attorney, Jason Palmer, the council restarted the process of approving a proposed rental housing ordinance.
Dennis Dugan noted minor changes were made to the rental housing ordinance, which included adding definitions for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
A specific rental permit expiration date, one year from the date the permit is approved, was also added.
Additionally, five members will be appointed to the housing appeals board instead of three. The board can include landlords and people who don’t live within city limits.
City Administrator Brent Wise also noted that the lower, revised fees and rates would be included as part of the first reading of the ordinance.
Council members discussed the timeline, which is dependent upon having three readings of the ordinance, and how additional public meetings would be handled.
According to the city’s attorney, the council would not need to have additional public meetings, as time for a public forum is included at each council meeting.
Mayor Steve Fetty allowed statements from Lynda and Mark Triggs after Lynda requested to speak. The council then fielded several questions raised by Adam Triggs.
Wise noted that landlords would have the opportunity to address any special situations with the housing appeals board and request a variance.
After lengthy discussion, Matt Henle put forward a motion to approve the first reading, Jessica Murphy seconded, and the council unanimously agreed to pass the first reading of the rental housing ordinance.
Budget Amendment
The council also held a budget amendment public hearing and reviewed additional equipment and project expenditures including:
• $45,000 in road use tax reserve dollars to help cover the cost of a new street sweeper;
• $10,000 from the general fund for airport hangar concrete;
• $7,500 for fire truck repairs due to storm damage;
• $50,000 from culture and recreation for concession stands at Judge Lewis Park, with half of the total covered by matching grant dollars;
• $11,000 from community and economic development for a FY 2024 TIF rebate payment related to the Mount Ayr Inn;
• $55,000 in sewer enterprise funds to complete the Madison Street project, along with $40,000 in stormwater enterprise funds with $20,000 for engineering costs and $20,000 for curbing.
Two revenue adjustments added $25,000 in grant money and a $7,500 from an insurance claim payout to the budget.
No one from the public spoke on this topic, and the council closed the public hearing and immediately approved Budget Amendment Resolution 2024-864.
Other business
In other regular business, the council approved:
- Going out for RFP to review the city’s financial institution options for depository, cash management, and general banking, with the intent to approach all four local banks;
- Resolution 2024-865C to purchase a 2016 Kenworth K370 street sweeper from Elliott Equipment Co. for $115,000;
- Sending out a recycling survey to Mount Ayr residents by mail.
Administrator Update
Administrator Wise reported that progress on the pool is still ahead of schedule and he is working on getting more information to determine the adequate number of lifeguards needed next year.
He noted there will be a meeting on October 24 to discuss various approaches to housing, and asked the council to consider whether they would like to offer an incentive to waive water sewer line fees for new construction.
Wise also reported they are working on filing paperwork related to four nuisance properties so the city can abate the property.
He noted HK Solutions plans to clean and film sewer lines around town the next two weeks.
The council heard that the Barnes and Stewart families would like to make a donation to install a canopy over the playground by the west ball field. The canopy would shield bystanders from fly balls.
Wise also gave the council a heads up regarding a potential Windstream lawsuit, as the city is being held accountable for a discrepancy amounting to $2,600 in charges.
