The city of Richmond is increasing fees related to building codes, planning and zoning, and the next round of increases will probably not take as long as this one.
Dustin Purvis, the city’s planning director, said during Richmond Common Council’s Nov. 18 meeting that the building code fee schedule that involves building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, inspections, licenses, and certificates of occupancy had not been updated since 2005. The planning and zoning fees had not been updated in 44 years, Purvis said.
The increases account for inflation and staff time and bring the city’s fee schedule more in line with similar-sized cities. Council approved the two ordinances with 9-0 votes.
After the first vote, Gary Turner, who is president of council, said that his observation is that the fee schedule should be updated again sooner than 20 years.
Justin Burkhardt, who chairs council’s finance committee, said the increases boost the fees to a level that’s needed, and he also said the city should address the fees more frequently.
Council also unanimously approved an ordinance allowing $65,000 for the purchase of aviation fuel for Richmond Municipal Airport. The request was made because sales have increased this year.
Two other ordinances on first hearing were referred to the finance committee for evaluation.
The first authorizes payment to the general fund from other budget funds for salaries and benefits of employees whose work impacts multiple departments. Such payments are made by the Richmond Sanitary District, Roseview Transit, Richmond Power & Light, the Parks and Recreation Department, and motor vehicle highway funds.
The second is to appropriate an additional $111,969.14 this year to cover insurance costs. Kenyatta Cox, the city’s human resources director, said a 12% increase rather than the budgeted 10% and the addition of properties led to a shortfall in the budget.
The shortfall includes $86,955.64 for property and liability insurance and $25,013.50 for worker’s compensation insurance.
Elder-Beerman demolition
The skywalk between the former Elder-Beerman building and the city parking garage was demolished in about three hours Nov. 18.
Mayor Ron Oler said the building demolition was delayed 30 days because a losing bidder appealed. O’Rourke Wrecking Co. of Cincinnati now has until the end of January to complete demolition; however, Oler expects demolition to progress more rapidly. He said O’Rourke completed other projects and could devote three crews to the Elder-Beerman demolition.
Work is approved for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with optional Saturday hours.
Offices closed
Oler told council that city offices will be closed Nov. 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving.
A version of this article appeared in the November 27 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.