Concerns and questions voiced Monday by rental property owners in International Falls prompted the International Falls City Council to send back to committee a proposal to require weekly garbage removal at rental units.
The council Monday heard from several landlords about the garbage removal plan, as well as a plan by the council to adopt a rental fee schedule, which includes inspection fees. Both issues are scheduled for further discussion at 4 p.m. Tuesday at a council committee meeting.
“The issues raised tonight are legitimate concerns and should be looked at and clarified,” said city Attorney Steve Shermoen.
Several landlords said the costs associated with contracting for weekly garbage removal would be harmful to their renters, many of whom are on fixed or low incomes.
In addition, they said they were concerned about city inspections of their units, which some said could result in costly repairs of items not associated with safety.
Councilors said the garbage removal amendment came as a result of complaints of people stockpiling garbage. And, they said, the inspection fees would help create an inventory of rental property owners as well as to make rental properties safer.
Dave Hausmann, who owns several rentals in the city, asked the council to invite landlords into the discussion.
Landlord Bob Discenza agreed. “We want to work with you,” he told the council.
An amendment to a city ordinance that would require weekly garbage removal by an approved contractor from rental units was scheduled for its second and final reading Monday, after which, it would have been effective.
That second reading never happened, and no action was taken on the rental fee schedule. Instead, councilors listened to concerns and frustrations voiced by rental property owners.
Discenza and Hausmann asked the council why just rental units were being targeted for garbage removal and inspection fees. They suggested that garbage removal and safety inspections be conducted on all properties in the city.
“If it’s about safety, it shouldn’t just be about renters,” said Discenza.
Barbara Wiley, who owns one rental unit, asked questions about the entire ordinance governing rental properties, raising issues about its clarity and definitions. She pointed to several sections of the ordinance and asked questions about timing and whether repairs must be made by licensed contractors.
Jeff Wickstrom, who owns several rental properties, suggested the city license landlords similar to contractors and real estate agents: A license is issued to a person, not for each unit. Licenses for rental property owners could be given after the rental unit owners are trained and know the rules.
Dale Olson, who owns more than 20 rental units, said he spent about $3,000 per year contracting for weekly garbage removal. About four years ago, he began to pick up the garbage at the units himself.
He asked why the city would require an approved contractor if the garbage is being picked up. He said most landlords would have to pass the costs of removal onto their renters.
Shermoen said the amendment makes no assumptions on who would be approved as a garbage contractor. He said it’s drafted to allow for flexibility and suggested that if a landlord is handling the pickup, they may be designated an approved contractor.
Olson also noted that some issues that could cause fires would not be revealed in an inspection, and pointed at a recent fire in one of his rentals. Of 192,000 apartment rental days at property he owns, he said just one fire has occurred.
He credited Fire Chief Jerry Jensen and his crew with doing “an excellent job” on the fire, adding that just one apartment among five in the building was damaged.
“The money you put into the fire crew I appreciate; the money you put into the inspections I don’t,” said Olson.
In other business, the council approved a $24,999.99 commercial loan to Pat Arnold at 3-percent interest rate and with a 5-year balloon payment.
The council approved advertising for a vacant light equipment operator position and agreement to terminate LeRoy Rognerud from employment at the water plant due to medical restrictions.
