With several tradesmen and property owners in attendance, the Marshall City Council voted Tuesday, Feb. 17 to table first reading of an ordinance that would begin passing fees charged by the city’s third-party inspection firm onto contractors.

If adopted, the ordinance would allow city staff to pass the costs charged by the Institute for Building Technology and Safety for plan inspection and permit reviews onto developers and contractors completing construction work. City administrator JD Kehrman says current fees charged by the city do not cover the costs, prompting the ordinance from the Community Development and Code Committee.
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After two residents called on the council to table the ordinance during public comment, second ward councilman Jim Papreck noted that he had received figures just prior to the meeting detailing costs that contractors could incur. Kehrman says the city is currently having to cover the difference.

Kehrman says committee members John Allen Jr and Harold Simmons are expected to review additional details at a future meeting that could result in changes to the proposed ordinance. This committee is also considering whether to update the fee schedule, with flat fees under consideration.

Tuesday night’s city council meeting began with a public hearing on Marshall’s application to renew their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, with no members of the public providing comment. The council approved a resolution acknowledging the Marshall Park Board taking out an additional $1 million loan to cover additional repairs, and gave second reading to an ordinance providing the annual renewal with Saline County Emergency Management. The council also gave both readings to a contract providing the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission facility access to the Marshall Energy Center.