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Sonja Edwards WOW! You know how to cook! Luv Ya Babe...PJTV Grill
Whether they call it Residential Inspection Before Sale (RIBS), Time of Sale (TOS), Point of Sale (POS), Truth in Sale, or Truth in Housing, or invent another acronym it all means the same. Columbia Heights is looking at bringing back the Residential Inspection Before Sale program. The city will be offering several resident informational meetings and meeting with realtors to explain their reason for looking at this again.
What amazes me is that this very item was presented to the city last summer and over 150 people packed out the city council chambers bringing a very effective case as to why this was not a good idea. After listening to numerous citizens the city council reversed their decision and voted against this type of ordinance. The council did come back a few months later and passed the same type of ordinance but it affects only foreclosed or abandoned homes. The city also has a detailed inspection program for rental properties. When this second inspection ordinance was passed we were reassured by Mayor Peterson that they did get the message that the original RIBS inspection program would not be reconsidered.
It is time that residents need to stay aware of what this city council is doing. Go to the informational meetings. (At the time of this writing, no dates have been set.) There is a realtor's informational meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 20 but you will need to contact the city for the time. Start coming to city council meetings. City council meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday in the city council chambers. City Council Work Sessions are held the 1st Monday of the month. If you can't make it to a meeting watch the city council meeting on the local cable channel. If you can't do that, make sure that you read the minutes and agendas from city council meetings that are available on the city website or available from the city offices. Since this item was reintroduced at the EDA meeting, it is time that residents start attending those meetings as well. The next EDA meeting will be held on May 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the City Conference Room.
The city staff have accused us of being misinformed about the original ordinance. Yet many residents gave very convincing arguments against the inspection ordinance otherwise this council would not have changed it's opinion about the benefits of the original ordinance. The council had the audacity to claim that "they got the message" and yet they are now reconsidering this program.
The only council member that seems to be convinced that this is not a good idea is Mr. Nawrocki. At the May 11th city council meeting, Mr. Nawrocki brought up the fact that the city was reintroducing this ordinance and was accused by the city manager, Mr. Fehst that this was incorrect and that this was a lie. Yet, in looking at the EDA minutes from March, it is stated over and over that RIBS is going to be introduced.
It is time to make sure that this city is doing what it promised and not misrepresenting its citizens. Watch for articles in the paper, watch for the summer newsletter from the city, read the letters to the editor, watch the council meetings, stay informed. Let's hold our city accountable for its promises. Maybe they will be able to present a convincing argument. But at this point I am very skeptical and I know there are many citizens in this community that share my opinion.
Make sure you read page 7 of the summer edition of the Columbia Heights city newsletter. (If you don't have it yet, it is available at the city website. There is a paragraph stating that the city is re-examining the need for more housing inspections. This paragraph does not call it RIBS but that is what they are looking at. The city is concerned that they are not getting the chance to inspect more homes before they are sold.
You can call the city and be put on their list to be notified when this will be discussed. 763-706-3978
Donna Schmitt
Columbia Heights Planning and Zoning Commission Member
Check out more of my blog
Sonja Edwards WOW! You know how to cook! Luv Ya Babe...PJTV Grill
Whether they call it Residential Inspection Before Sale (RIBS), Time of Sale (TOS), Point of Sale (POS), Truth in Sale, or Truth in Housing, or invent another acronym it all means the same. Columbia Heights is looking at bringing back the Residential Inspection Before Sale program. The city will be offering several resident informational meetings and meeting with realtors to explain their reason for looking at this again.
What amazes me is that this very item was presented to the city last summer and over 150 people packed out the city council chambers bringing a very effective case as to why this was not a good idea. After listening to numerous citizens the city council reversed their decision and voted against this type of ordinance. The council did come back a few months later and passed the same type of ordinance but it affects only foreclosed or abandoned homes. The city also has a detailed inspection program for rental properties. When this second inspection ordinance was passed we were reassured by Mayor Peterson that they did get the message that the original RIBS inspection program would not be reconsidered.
It is time that residents need to stay aware of what this city council is doing. Go to the informational meetings. (At the time of this writing, no dates have been set.) There is a realtor's informational meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 20 but you will need to contact the city for the time. Start coming to city council meetings. City council meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday in the city council chambers. City Council Work Sessions are held the 1st Monday of the month. If you can't make it to a meeting watch the city council meeting on the local cable channel. If you can't do that, make sure that you read the minutes and agendas from city council meetings that are available on the city website or available from the city offices. Since this item was reintroduced at the EDA meeting, it is time that residents start attending those meetings as well. The next EDA meeting will be held on May 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the City Conference Room.
The city staff have accused us of being misinformed about the original ordinance. Yet many residents gave very convincing arguments against the inspection ordinance otherwise this council would not have changed it's opinion about the benefits of the original ordinance. The council had the audacity to claim that "they got the message" and yet they are now reconsidering this program.
The only council member that seems to be convinced that this is not a good idea is Mr. Nawrocki. At the May 11th city council meeting, Mr. Nawrocki brought up the fact that the city was reintroducing this ordinance and was accused by the city manager, Mr. Fehst that this was incorrect and that this was a lie. Yet, in looking at the EDA minutes from March, it is stated over and over that RIBS is going to be introduced.
It is time to make sure that this city is doing what it promised and not misrepresenting its citizens. Watch for articles in the paper, watch for the summer newsletter from the city, read the letters to the editor, watch the council meetings, stay informed. Let's hold our city accountable for its promises. Maybe they will be able to present a convincing argument. But at this point I am very skeptical and I know there are many citizens in this community that share my opinion.
Make sure you read page 7 of the summer edition of the Columbia Heights city newsletter. (If you don't have it yet, it is available at the city website. There is a paragraph stating that the city is re-examining the need for more housing inspections. This paragraph does not call it RIBS but that is what they are looking at. The city is concerned that they are not getting the chance to inspect more homes before they are sold.
You can call the city and be put on their list to be notified when this will be discussed. 763-706-3978
Donna Schmitt
Columbia Heights Planning and Zoning Commission Member
Check out more of my blog
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