The Houston City Council was encouraged Monday to adopt a building code for the community that would address safety concerns and standards for construction.
Rob Harrington, director of economic development, told the council some type of codes are necessary to ensure that the town’s housing supply was safe. The city has looked at regulations from Seymour and Salem, where some form of inspections are already in place. He presented a thick binder of standards that are in place across the country. Much of the paperwork relates to fire prevention in regard to construction and design and the operation of a completed and occupied building.
The council was encouraged to review the document and make suggestions. It is unclear who might conduct inspections. One suggestion was the town’s fire chief.
Harrington said the need for codes came up during an onsite visit of a firm performing a housing study in Houston.
In other matters, members:
•Heard from Harrington that that more than 200 surveys have been completed for a labor survey of Houston and the area. A consultant is working on a report that highlights the workforce. (A related story appears elsewhere). He also said work is under way on a fiber survey to determine the feasibility of operating a municipally owned broadband service.
•Discussed an announcement last week that Mineral Area College would begin offering general education classes locally as early as October.
•Updated paperwork that allows the city to continue to seek federal funds administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
•Heard from Jarid Scheets of Miller’s Grill about a water leak that led to a water bill that totaled more than $1,800. He asked the council consider some type of forgiveness on the total that greatly exceeded normal consumption. Once discovered and utilities identified, work began quickly to repair, he said.
•Voted to place a renewal of a five-year transportation sales tax on the Nov. 5 ballot. A yes vote would allow the quarter-cent sales tax to continue on the books. The funds allow the city to perform an annual asphalt overlay program.
•Approved the 2019 property tax rate, which is down slightly.
•Authorized the purchase of electrical transformers for stock inventory. A more than $108,000 bid from Harry Cooper Supply Co. in Springfield was approved. Poles totaling more than $9,700 were bought from Arkansas Electric. Both were items included in the 2019 budget.
•Complimented various city departments for their handling of an electrical outage Saturday after a truck hit infrastructure. The city will submit a bill to an insurance company.
•Heard Councilwoman Vicki Narancich compliment the parks department on an improved revenue picture. Work will be done to correct drainage problems around a new splash pad, members heard.
•Heard Alderman Joe Honeycutt give an airport committee report on the need for numbers on hangars and a review of city-owned hangars that could be used by planes making an overnight stay.
•Adjourned into a closed session. It was reported there were no actions taken.