Around Maquoketa as of July 10, 2002 by Judy Carr

The City Council has decided to rescind the controversial building code ordinance.  This, in effect, will end a 3-year process to find a way to adopt and enforce a code in Maquoketa.

On Monday, July 1, 2002, there were several items on the City Council agenda regarding the building code that was effective July 1st.  These motions were to set new building permit fees and to appoint building code inspectors to enforce the code.  These motions had previously been on the agenda for the last meeting in June, but there were not enough Council members at that meeting to approve the motions.

Jim Bollman made a motion to approve a resolution adopting the proposed building permit fee schedule and Tom Schueller seconded the motion.  This motion failed on a 3-3 vote.  Council members Flynn and Cressey had both been on the committee recommending the adoption of the code and both voted no regarding the adoption of fees.  Both council members felt there was not enough support for the building code by other council members and the citizens of Maquoketa.  Both said that there is a need for a building code and they felt the Mayor should appoint three new council members to work on this issue. 

John Cressey stated that he was voting against the adoption of the new fees and he would be asking the City Manager to place an item on the July 15^th Council agenda that would rescind the building code ordinance that went into effect on July 1^st.  This motion will be placed on the agenda and voted on at the July 15^th meeting. 

The City is currently enforcing only the zoning ordinance and has not started enforcing the new building code.  If the council votes to rescind this ordinance, the City will again be without a building code and will only enforce zoning issues.

Recently the City Council approved a three-year contract with the Public Safety Bargaining Unit and the Employees Association Bargaining Unit.  The agreements approve a 3% increase on July 1, 2002, a 4% increase on July 1, 2003 and a 4% increase on July 1, 2004. 

The City Council held a public hearing regarding the development agreement for Carlisle Real Estate Group.  The agreement involves a $1.2 million public infrastructure project that would develop seven new commercial lots.  There weren’t any written or verbal comments made during the public hearing.  The Council voted to approve the development agreement.  Grading for the project has already begun at the site of the old Nairn property, and a building permit for a new $2 million hotel has been issued.

There will be a public hearing held by the City Council on Monday, July 15^th regarding plans and specifications for the 2002 Seal Coating Program.  If the plans are approved, the City will go out for bid and the crackfilling and seal coating of streets will begin on September 1, 2002.