At last night’s (Tues.) meeting, the Pierre City Commission heard two separate proposals to change city ordinance. The first was a request to update the city’s building code; the second adds fines to the portion of ordinance related to building code and property maintenance violations.
City Building Official Matt Elberson says property owner rights remain intact with the proposed change. He says when a violation is reported to the city, staff will make contact with the property owner and work with that property owner to bring the property into compliance, just like they do now. He says the proposed changes would provide the city with a local resource for situations when property owners remain chronically out of compliance.
Elberson says under the proposal, property owners would be subject to fines ranging from $100 up to $250 if they do not work toward compliance or reach compliance in the allotted 45 days. Additionally, the proposed changes would include fines for people working without proper building permits. He says they hope the requested ordinance change will aid in quicker remedies for property violations; However, legal action through the court system would remain an option for both the city and property owners.
The City Building Department and the Police Department work cooperatively to enforce building and property codes.
The commission is expected to vote on the ordinance changes at the March 23 commission meeting.
The City of Pierre is considering adoption of the 2018 edition of the International I-Codes. The I-Codes are an internationally recognized set of building standards designed to ensure the safety and integrity of new and remodeled structures, as well as other construction projects. Additionally, adopting modern code helps keep property insurance more affordable in Pierre.
The International Code Council updates the I-Codes every three years. City staff review the new I-Codes as they are issued and amend the codes to align with local needs.rking without proper building permits.
The commission is expected to vote on the ordinance changes at the March 23 commission meeting.
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