A building code is a good idea

The latest dustup at city hall involves building codes and inspections. The city of Atlantic is in the process of adopting the universal building code, which means new construction and some remodeling work will now soon require building inspections. There will be a fee for these inspections and not surprisingly the idea has met with a fair amount of controversy.
The issue seems to be this, supporters correctly point out that the state has already passed codes for electrical and plumbing. Those codes require that electricians and plumbers be certified by the state. It also requires buildings to be inspected. The city, if it adopts the code, can use it’s own inspectors for the job or contract with another company to do them for the city.
The city does not have to adopt the new codes, but if it doesn’t, the state code will automatically be enforced. State inspectors will then be used. The bottom line is that inspections are going to happen one way or another.
The concern from some is that there won’t be enough state inspectors to go around, and it could be weeks before a state inspector can get to a job site in Atlantic. So the city has decided to contract with a company out of Pottawattamie County, JAS, to assist in adopting the code and setting the inspection fees, with the idea being that inspectors will be available in Atlantic when needed.
An additional concern is that of fees. There will be fees for the inspections regardless of who does them. The questions are, A) how much will they be, B) who gets the money?
The answer to the first question is, we don’t know yet. The city is in the process of forming an ad-hoc committee that will work with JAS to come up with a fee schedule. JAS officials have said that the fees for will be based on square footage, and will run around $2,000 to $3,000. There will also be fees for some types of remodeling work, additions including decks and things like that. Officials have not publicly said how much those fees will be, and there seems to be a lot of questions as to what kind of work will require a permit and inspections. Those questions will need to be answered.
As for who gets the money, if the city does the inspections, JAS will get 75 percent of the inspection fees and the city will get 25 percent. If the state does the inspections it will keep the fees.
Where do I stand in all this?
Building codes are a good thing. They are there for the public’s protection. Most people are unfamiliar with construction materials and methods and have no way of determining if their home is being built safely. A building code sets out minimum standards that everyone must adhere to. Simply put, it makes homes safer. That’s good.
It will also benefit low income residents, forced to rent in homes that may not meet those standards. Landlords won’t be required to bring homes up to standard, but any new construction, or remodel work, will have to meet the standard. As new homes are built and old homes retired, the overall housing standard in Atlantic will rise and the number of unsafe homes will be reduced.
Some citizens are justifiably worried that new fees will be restrictive and hurt the local construction market. Will it make construction more expensive? Yes, but it doesn’t have to be prohibitively so.
I think the city has made a wise move in expanding the size of the ad-hoc committee, a suggestion that came from JAS officials incidentally, to include contractors, electricians, plumbers, realtors and the general public. The city should seek out responsible, thoughtful, individuals for the job, even if they may oppose the idea at this point. A committee of “yes-men” serves no one, and the decisions they make, will live with for a long time. Once the rules are in place, they’re not going away. Let the committee take its time and work out the details so that everyone can live with the results.
City officials should also make sure the process is open and keep the public informed. There are a lot of questions out there, legitimate questions that deserve an answer, and not an attack on the questioner.
The process got off to rocky start, but if supporters can be less defensive and more open, and if those who oppose it can be less accusatory, and more open, then there may be a chance for putting in place something that will benefit everyone in the community.
That may be a lot to ask for, but here’s hoping.