GAS — Gas councilmen will consider an ordinance at their July 14 meeting that will outline building codes for the city. At present the city has none. IN OTHER NEWS:
City Attorney Ross Albertini said Tuesday evening he would prepare the ordinance, based on 1997 Uniform Building Codes, 2008 National Electric Codes and 1994 Uniform Plumbing Codes. Councilmen may endorse what is proposed as is, or order modifications.
Motivation is to ensure construction of new structures, and improvements to those in place, are done in such a manner to avoid Gas becoming rife with substandard homes.
Discussion of codes initially arose at the council’s May 12 meeting.
Also Tuesday, councilmen — only three were on deck with Mark Henry and Larry Robertson as well as Mayor Darrel Catron absent — tabled consideration of a contract to sell two lots the city owns to Iolan Wayne Barnett. That came after a bit of a set-to with Barnett, who said he was under the impression a contract sent for his review — offering the lots of $1,000 each — made the purchase binding.
Not until council members vote to approve it, Albertini interjected. City Clerk Rhonda Hill returned a check to Barnett he brought to her office on Monday, and which, Hill said, she reluctantly accepted because the contract had not been approved.
A good part of Barnett’s beef was that he had ordered materials to start construction of houses on the lots in the southwest part of Gas, with payment already made to a Topeka company.
Meanwhile, councilmen told Jason Barnett, Wayne Barnett’s son, that he would have to stand the expense of installing sewer lines and pay connection fees. The younger Barnett has purchased land also in the southwest part of town.
“I feel like you don’t want us here,” he accused councilmen, after they refused to complete the transaction with his father.
Council members responded with courtesy, but said they wanted a full body to decide the contract with Wayne Barnett.
— Councilmen agreed to make City Hall improvement costs a part of the 2016 budget. Materials for new siding and flooring and redesign of the interior to give more accessibility to customers are expected to cost $6,800. The city crew will do the work.
— They expressed interest in making Meals on Wheels available to Gas seniors, but took no action until they learn more about how Allen County intends the program to be going forward. The county is considering preparation of meals at the jail kitchen, rather than through Senior Services of Southeast Kansas.
Gas mulls building codes
