BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org
Issues involving the clean-up of local properties and the removal of unsafe structures were discussed at Tuesday’s Coffeyville City Commission meeting.
Commissioners agreed to adopt a policy that would waive local building permit fees for any local residential property that is occupied, including rental properties, in a quest to encourage the “sprucing up” of those homes.
The building permit fee wavier was suggested by commissioner Pam Jones, who said she believed the fee waiver would allow homeowners and landlords to have more money to invest in their homes.
Initially, Jones suggested that the building permit fee waiver apply to residential properties only and that the waiver not exceed investments greater than $20,000 (a building investment of $20,000 would result in a building permit fee of $207).
However, the commission, at the request of commissioner Jim Taylor, Sr., suggested that Jones exclude a maximum investment. Under Taylor’s suggestion, a waiver will be granted for any investment, provided that it is used for an enhancement of local residential properties.
Commissioners agreed to the policy, which will return to the commission table in February for a formal vote.
On a related note, Jones mentioned that any residential structure located within the Neighborhood Revitalization Zones would have an added benefit to the building permit fee waiver. Not only will those homes qualify for the waived building permit fee but any investment that increased the valuation of the property by at least 5 percent would qualify for a rebate of any new or additional property taxes stemming from that investment. There would be a full rebate of the additional property taxes for the first five years, after which the rebate would be at a 50 percent rate up to the 10th year of the investment.
In a discussion regarding the removal of unsafe structures, commissioners agreed to award a bid from G&G Dozer of Caney to remove six properties that have been condemned. G&G Dozer submitted the low bid of $9,020 for the demolition of the six properties, which are located at 817 W. Second, 502 E. Ninth, 1304 Roosevelt, 1505 Old South Willow, 803 W. Boothby, and 1523 S. Elm (removal of debris from lot).
Commissioners also learned that they will have another set of demolition bids to consider in February for the removal of 17 other condemned structures.
In other business transacted at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners:
• agreed with its continued support of the Montgomery County Action Council calling for the City of Coffeyville for $15,680 yearly dues, payable in quarterly payments of $3,920.
The Montgomery County Action Council is the county’s leading economic development agency which receives its support from the Montgomery County Commission as well as the cities of Caney, Cheryvale, Coffeyville and Independence.
• approved the purchase of a photocopier machine for the City of Coffeyville’s Electrical Power Plant.
• agreed to have ACM Removal, LLC to remove asbestos at two properties — 1109 W. 14th and 4113 W. First — for a price not to exceed $2,840.
• agreed to a plan for financing the purchase of a new firetruck for the Coffeyville Fire Department.
The firetruck is expected to cost $269,200.
To pay for the firetruck, money will be borrowed from the following funds: Electric Depreciation/Replacement Fund, $169,200; Water Depreciation/Replacement Fund, $50,000; and Wastewater Depreciation/Replacement Fund, $50,000.
Funds will be paid back to those three above-mentioned funds over a period of seven years beginning in 2012 with sales tax revenues within the City of Coffeyville’s Capital Equipment Fund.
• agreed to allow Virgil Parker, who has been contracted to mow tall weeds on city lots and properties that have been cited for violating weed ordinances, to continue mowing the tall weeds for 2011 at a cost of $14 per lot.
• discussed whether to purchase an advertisement in the Coffeyville Journal’s Progress Edition. The Journal has requested that the City of Coffeyville buy a half-page ad. In return, the Journal will write a story about the latest City of Coffeyville accomplishments.
The City of Coffeyville had purchased ads in the Journal’s Progress Edition ranging from $210 (in 2010) to $1200 (in 2008).
Commissioners indicated they wished to spend more than $210 — perhaps in a range of $500 to $800 — to promote the City’s latest achievements and accomplishments.
