Following Monday’s discussion between rental property owners, renters and the Carroll City Council, city staff has set a date for a special meeting on the proposed Rental Housing Code and associated inspections. City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, says they are asking all interested parties to begin participation prior to the March 9 workshop at the City Council’s regular meeting.
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This will also give them time to organize comments and questions.
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Comments will be included exactly as they are submitted. This information will then be made available to the public for review online at the city’s website by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 5. The goal, according to Pogge-Weaver, is to be able to work through some of the questions raised at previous meetings.
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One of the major topics of conversation from the landlords has been about the proposed annual inspection fee of $35 per unit in a building and an additional $10 for the rest. This also includes a free inspection and then added charges for those properties requiring more inspections. Pogge-Weaver stresses they are not the “shag carpet police.” This code is being developed in the interest of public safety.
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Currently, the city has no ordinance to fall back on when a complaint comes in about a rental property. They cannot access these properties for an inspection and there is nothing in writing that would delineate what types of issues would have to be fixed. Pogge-Weaver says they want to work with people and be a partner in this, but to also have the tools they need to get the job done. Again, submissions will be due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. They can be sent by email to cityofcarroll@cityofcarroll.com or dropped off in person at City Hall at 627 N. Adams Street. Anyone with questions can call 792-1000. A link to the code can be found below.
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https://www.cityofcarroll.com/rental-housing-code