KINGWOOD — Kingwood City Council answered questions from Mike Neel concerning the search for a building code inspector during its recent meeting.
During their June 13 meeting, council members met with Code Inspector Trenton Cooper, from Elkins, and discussed the possibility of his helping with dilapidated buildings and condemned properties.
Cooper told council members he was busy, but could commit to a couple days a week. If hired, council indicated Cooper would be contracted by job and would not receive insurance or other benefits.
Council has discussed the need for a code inspector during past meetings, when looking at dilapidated buildings and condemned properties..
Neel asked what the building code inspector’s authority concerning buildings and homes in the county would be.
“What authority would he have coming on private property?” Neel asked. “This inspector would have no authority on my property for anything.”
Councilman Bill Robertson said the city was looking for a building code inspector because some federal grants require it. “We don’t want to miss out on federal funds. To get some of the funds out there we need a code enforcer.”
“You don’t need government funds.” Neel said. “That should be done locally.”
No further discussion or action was taken on the matter.
In other business, Kathy Mace, representing Blueprint Community, thanked city workers and staff for their help during the recent Summerfest event. Mace said Rhonda Sypolt and her staff did a site survey and found the 35 vendors attending Summerfest all made money. She said there were 250 people in town who attended the festival.
“The Blueprint Community is wrapping up in August,” Mace said. “We wold like to see the town form a group that would keep things going. We don’t want to lose the energy in community engagement.”
Police Chief Charley Haney said city officers will be on patrol evenings, beginnng Friday through the Fourth of July. Officers will make sure there are no fireworks going off after 10 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Stiles said despite the weather, 32 pool parties have been scheduled. He said on Monday there were 40 people at the pool, and 113 on another “good day.”
The next meeting of the Kingwood City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. July 11.
