HOISINGTON — At the Hoisington City Council meeting on Monday, several landlords were present, upset about the rental licensing agreement just passed by the council. The Great Bend Tribune featured a story on the program on July 6. The rental agreement requires minimum standards for rental housing and rental inspection.
“We’re disappointed as landlords that weren’t included in pre-discussion,” said Jim Meitner told the council. “We’ve never had it before.”
“We buy houses for the community for people to stay in Hoisington,” said Leon Steinert.
Meitner was concerned about it burdening landlords.
Council member Christina Smith said the ordinance was not to burden landlords but to help protect people who are living in the home.
The council will have a work session on the issue in August. Although the ordinance has passed, City Attorney John Horner said the ordinance could be repealed.
City Manager Jonathan Mitchell told the group that they didn’t want people living in sub-standard conditions.
The council has discussed this issue in previous meetings.
In other business, Gene Manweiler, owner of Manweiler Chevrolet, requested that if the city passes a sales tax, that they keep the amount the same as Great Bend’s.
He told the council that businesses and the city were on the same team. He encouraged people to shop locally.
The city is considering a 1 percent sales tax due to needed infrastructure upgrades. Those upgrades include city sewage lagoons that are short-circuiting.
No action was taken.
Code Enforcement Officer Don Doerschlag updated the council on the property at 305 E. 2nd. He said the demolition has been completed.
The work at the property at 355 W. Broadway has been completed and there are no outstanding violations, Doerschlag reported. Work started Monday on the property at 304 E. 2nd.
A construction company has been hired, and Doerschlag’s opinion was to give the home owner more time to get the work done.
Doerschlag also stuff that most of the requirements for the rental program are already city ordinances. He also informed the council that approximately 12 houses have been demolished since he has been working code enforcement.
E-Community
Mitchell reported that, in conjunction with E-Community, several partners are working together to purchase a building downtown to encourage entrepreneurship in the community. There has been $15,000 raised to acquire the property. The council agreed to contribute $5,000 toward the purchase, contingent on all partners raising their funding for a total of $20,000.
Mitchell said several interested individuals had expressed willingness to help with the project.