DECATUR — The Decatur city council met in special session on Nov. 21 to discuss and vote on proposed city ordinance 13-07, which would change the cost of building inspections. Also under consideration was to formally allow Benton County to do the inspections for the city of Decatur.
Mayor Charles Linam presented the ordinance at the Nov. 20 meeting of the Decatur Planning and Zoning Committee for approval. The committee, chaired by James Jessen, was extensively questioned by Linam before voting and passing to recommend it to the city council.
Ordinance 13-07 is “An Ordinance Repealing Ordinances 87-04, 93-02, 05-02, 05-03, adopting a revised fee schedule for building inspections and exempting agricultural buildings from building inspections and fees, declaring an emergency and for other purposes.”
Decatur hired Benton County to perform building inspections within the municipality several years ago but retained the old fee schedules. This ordinance would repeal the current feeschedule and place into effect the new inspection fees, the same as the county’s.
After a short discussion by members of the city council, the ordinance and emergency clause were passed, meaning the law will go into effect immediately.
Some of the new fees and permits for building inspections include: inspection - $50, plumbing permit - $50, house/mobile home moving permit - $100, single phase construction fee - $50, extra inspection fee - $15.
For a full list of fees and schedules, contact the city clerk’s office at Decatur City Hall.
Opinion, Pages 7 on 11/27/2013