After a 50-minute discussion and split vote, the Marshall City Council agreed to a contract outsourcing much of the city’s building and codes inspection.
The council voted 6-2 Tuesday, May 20 to approve a service agreement with the non-profit Institute for Building Technology and Safety, who maintains a regional office in Kansas City and has agreements in place with 40 polities in Kansas and Missouri. The move comes less than a week after both the city’s code enforcement manager Sheerie Norman and inspector Aaron Gibson were let go. City administrator JD Kehrman told the council, along with a gallery full of concerned tradesmen and developers, that a reset of how the city enforces their codes was necessary, and requires an outside agency that he says is highly recommended by the Missouri Municipal League.
Citizens in the audience and council members had multiple questions about the terms of the contract, including how IBTS would conduct their inspections from their Kansas City offices, and who would take over code enforcement. Third ward councilman Jeremy Gibson was critical of turning some code enforcement duties to the Marshall Police Department.
Confusion also arose over what rates developers and contractors would be expected to pay, prompting fourth ward councilman Harold Simmons to make a motion to table the contract until a rate study could take place. The council voted 5-3 against tabling, and ultimately passed the agreement with Simmons and Gibson both opposed. Kehrman noted at the meeting that the resolution adopting the contract does not change permit fees the city charges, as those are handled by a separate ordinance. The agenda packet posted on the city’s website, which was sent to KMMO and other media outlets May 16, did not include IBTS’ schedule rates. KMMO has requested a copy of these rate tables.
Kehrman says the city and IBTS will soon meet to establish updated procedures for filing for permits and scheduling inspections. He adds that this will include a public meeting for tradesmen and developers to explain the changes.
In additional business Tuesday night, the Marshall City Council executed agreements with Higgins Asphalt for cold milling and asphalt overlay, as well as Pavement Management for slurry seal services. The city also executed a lease agreement with the Missouri State Cornhusking Championship, set for Sept. 20 at the Saline County Fairgrounds.
You can listen to a recording of Tuesday’s Marshall City Council meeting below: