Boyceville ponders changes in their building codes

BOYCEVILLE — The Village Board pondered changes in the Village’s building codes at their meeting Monday evening, November 14th.

The small changes in two codes would identify homes built before and after June 1, 1980 and creates a chart to identify and separate building requirements into three categories and who does the inspection and the issuing of the building permits.

Patrick Beilfuss of Cedar Corporation presented the two updated code revision to the board and explained how they worked. The codes would be broken down into three areas; the first is called the Uniform Dwelling Code Permit and addresses one and two family homes built after June 1, 1980, which requires inspection by the Village’s building inspector. The second would address Commercial and Industrial building permits requiring state inspection, and the third would be called “Local Maintenance and Building Notification”, where the village is just informed about improvements.

That notification process would be for homes that were built before June 1, 1980 and repair and maintenance would not require a building permit, but would require the owner to notify village officials of the work being done.

Beilfuss explained to the Board about the process. “It is a must that the village know who is going to do something to their property”. He continued, “It makes everything clearer if everyone is required to notify the village.”

In the new codes, all reference to the cost of improvements has been removed. Village Board members spent a good amount of time pondering what improvements would be done by a property owner that would require notifying the village. Village President Gib Krueger questioned Beilfuss about his home that was built in the 1930s, if he needed a new furnace and if a permit or notification was required.

The board discussed what items should need some sort of notification to village officials and after some time agreed that a list is needed to be created so a home owner could then be informed as to what was needed by the village. The building and property committee will try to draw up a list of items so the board can review that list at the next meeting. During the discussion about the codes, board member Mary Lagerstrom suggested, “Are we making a bigger mess than we already had?”

Parents arrested after kids test positive for drugs

During his report to the Village Board, Police Chief Greg Lamkin indicated that his department had made three arrests last month. Two of the arrests “were parents whose children tested positive for meth.” Lamkin later said the two children were one- and two-year olds.

Lamkin also noted that the department’s “Drug Take Back” program last month collected over 21 pounds of medications. He also said that he has started background checks on two officer candidates for the department. Lamkin also noted to the board that the budget should have a surplus at the end of the year because the department was short an officer.

In other action, the board approved an operators license to Kay Jones on a six-to-one vote; approved a lease agreement for property at the airport; and approved the 2017 salary schedule, which showed an increase of over three percent.