More Explanation about the Building Inspection Process

I got raked over the coals in a "Letter to the Editor". I'll try and post that, but here was my response the following week. Actually once she came to our council meeting and everything was laid out we all came to some common understandings and it was a very productive meeting.

At our two last two council meetings there have been discussions about the new inspection process. I would like to take time to explain the reasoning behind the decisions we have made up to this point.

I have talked with many citizens who have stated their happiness and /or concerns alike. I appreciate all of your input. This is a new and exciting process for the City. I also understand that change can bring some difficulty and confusion.

The decision to implement the new process has caught some by surprise. We have tried our best to inform people what was going to happen throughout this nine month process. We have learned that we have done some things well. Looking back on hindsight, we could have done some things differently. I hope that people will have a better understanding of what is happening and why after reading this article.

Please feel free to contact me or join us at a council meeting to discuss your concerns or ideas.

Sonja V (Letter to the Editor 10/03/2007) was present at our last council meeting. The meeting covered the inspection process and we all discussed issues raised in her letter. We were able to come to some common understanding and were able to draw constructive ideas and suggestions.
I appreciated her taking time to write the letter and attend our meeting.

The city has gone through an extended period of planning over the last two years, and has developed our Comprehensive Plan. Citizens participated and gave their input on what our strengths and weaknesses are as a city. Our comprehensive plan was developed based on the input we received from you. We approved that plan earlier this year after months of meetings. I would encourage you all to view this document either at the INH Website or by stopping by Clarissa City Hall.

The number one issue that was highlighted was the condition of the physical appearance of existing buildings and infrastructure. These related to rental properties, our downtown businesses, Hwy 71 and various sections of town. I think a majority of you would agree Clarissa needs to address these issues if it wants to attract new businesses and families that call it home.

A plan was needed to address this issue. The plan we came up with was the inspection process. The council and I are aware that we are entering unpopular territory when we implement a process that tells someone they need to make changes to their property. It is imperative we start here because it is a foundational issue and is closely related to other issues vital to development in Clarissa. We continue to remain open to your suggestions on how we can improve this process.

After consulting with other cities that have a process in place, we decided to bring in NCIS for a few reasons:

1. We wanted the process to cover the entire city using the city ordinances we have. Using our ordinance and applying it city wide would give a sense of fairness to all. In other words, it would not be viewed as picking on any one individual or group. It is difficult to tackle issues of this kind in a close-knit community like ours without the impression that we are personally targeting individuals. We wanted the Mayor to be subjected to the same inspection that any citizen would be going through. (PS: The mayor got a letter as well regarding his trim needing painting.)

2. NCIS was also chosen because they are familiar with this area and have worked in cities like Motley and Staples. The process is one many cities have in place that is consistent and fair across the board. It ensures that any citizen can have their complaint heard and handled fairly by professionals in the industry.

There has been some comment about why the use of a strict date and certain wording in the letter. We have in the past sent out our own letters. I have talked personally to various owners about problems big and small to find solutions. What we have experienced is that there is often no follow-through and no progress. The letters used by NCIS have dates and language required by law, so that the council can then move forward on issues it feels are most important to address.

We also understand that projects take money, time, and ability that may be lacking in the time frame laid out by NCIS. What we have asked is that those receiving the letter that are unable to make the date, for whatever reason, write up a letter giving NCIS a time frame on when the project can be completed. All the requests thus far have been very reasonable and have been approved. I know at the last two council meetings we wish a better explanation of the time frame had been included in the letters with more detail/instructions. In hindsight, that was an error on our part.

I think you can see there have been many improvements made as a result of this process around the city. What we are trying to do is work with people in a fair and organized manner. We want to ensure these areas are first addressed so that other issues like planning for businesses, developing updated and affordable housing, upgrading infrastructure, and building a city we can all be proud of in the years to come can be accomplished.

Respectfully,

Nathan McLaughlin
Mayor of Clarissa