Council Puts Off Approving Contract For Inspections

The City of Glenwood’s plan to hire a private firm to handle inspection services for building code compliance was put on hold during a lengthy meeting of the Glenwood City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

The meeting agenda suggested the city council would take formal action on approving a contract with JDW Midwest for inspection services, pending the council’s anticipated adoption of a building code ordinance in the coming weeks. The matter was tabled, however, after questions and concerns were raised about the percentage of collected fees JDW Midwest would receive for doing the inspection work and the length of contract the city would have with the firm. A five-year contract with JDW Midwest receiving 75 percent of the fees has been proposed.

“I’m still concerned about giving away 75 percent of the fees collected,” council member Laurie Smithers said. “I’m not asking for free, but I’m asking for (the city to receive) more than 25 percent.”

Fellow council member Craig Florian said he’s “uncomfortable” committing to a five-year contract.

Meanwhile, council member Dan McComb said the city currently has no one on staff qualified to do the inspections and getting 25 percent of the fees is more than the city is taking in now.

“If we get too stingy, we’ll be back to having no inspections,” he said.

McComb did push for the matter to be tabled after hearing concerns from audience member Ryan Sell who accused the city of not soliciting public input on the matter.

“Listen to your constituents before pushing this through,” Sell said. “Give people an opportunity to voice their opinion.”
Sell noted that JDW Midwest is contracted to handle inspections for Mills County and he encouraged council members to get input from local builders and contractors who have prior experience working with the firm. Sell said permit and inspection fees currently being charged in the county are hindering economic development in the region and similar fees in Glenwood would have the same impact.

Concerns were also expressed at the meeting about the city approving a contract with an inspection firm before a building code ordinance is actually adopted.

JDW Midwest owner and president Darin Whatcott, who was in attendance at the meeting, said city attorney Matt Woods requested a contract be in place before the ordinance became law.

“It’s not something I asked for,” he said. “It’s the way Matt Woods wants it.”

Whatcott also addressed concerns about inspection fees, noting the rates would be set by the city.

“You guys set the rates and the ordinance, we provide the service,” he said.

Other city council agenda items of interest:
* * * A public hearing was held to discuss the city’s proposed Urban Revitalization Area that includes the commercially-zoned downtown business district, Locust Street corridor and an industrial area on the south end of the city limits.
Under the plan, property owners in the Urban Revitalization Area will receive a 75-percent exemption on property taxes for three years for new construction or improvements that increase the actual value of their property by at least 15 percent. The exemption will apply only to the added value of the property.

The city’s hope is that designating an Urban Revitalization Area will encourage improvements and expansion of existing businesses and fuel new economic development.
Florian and fellow council member Jeremy Rodman noted the council has been working on the plan for several months and stressed that property owners would get a three-year exemption for the added value of their property, not a rebate.

“It’s money that we haven’t had on our books,” Florian said.

*  *  *The city will sponsor city-wide clean-up days Sept. 7-8. Details and guidelines will be advertised at a later date.