Rental housing in the City of Washington will be subject to mandated health and safety inspections if an ordinance introduced at Monday night’s City Council meeting passes at the next Council meeting. After several fires in rental units over the past ten years, which resulted in at least three deaths, the Council decided to look into mandating health and safety inspections on rental housing in the City. The new ordinance requires each rental unit to be inspected and receive a permit. The permits are not transferable, and rental units and buildings must be inspected each time the building is sold. According to the proposed ordinance, tenants who feel their housing unit is unhealthy or unsafe can request the city to inspect the residence. However, if the city finds no violations, the landlord will face no fees for the inspection. However, landlords who fail to comply face stiff fines on a daily basis and will not be able to legally rent their units without a valid permit. The Rental Unit Health and Safety Inspection Ordinance will be up for a final vote at the City Council meeting on January 26.
And Washington will be part of the celebration of Indiana University’s appearance in the National Championship football game on January 19. Russ Jordan, owner of the Indiana Theater, told the council that he had talked with the owners of the Chamber and the Cherry Ghost, and they are planning a Washington Watch Party when the Hoosiers take on Miami on January 19. Jordan said he will run the game on the big screen at the Indiana Theater. The Council and the Board of Works approved Jordan’s request for Main Street to be closed between Highway 57 and East Fourth Street from 6 pm to 8 pm for the event on Monday, January 19.
In other business, the Council agreed to a resolution transferring economic development funds to pay part of the City’s portion of costs of the Commons Project in downtown Washington. The City Council also agreed to contribute $40,000 from the city’s economic development funds to Discover Downtown Washington. Discover Downtown Washington’s executive director, Brandy Weiland, gave the Council an update on Discover Downtown’s activities, outlining the several thousand visitors brought into Washington and their economic impact on the Community.
In other actions, the Council re-elected Alan Brown as president pro-tem, Mayor Rhoads appointed Anita Ash and David Dahl to the Board of Public Works and Safety, and approved a list of encumbered funds from 2925 presented by City Clerk-Treasurer Beth McGookey. The Council also voted to add Election Day, on November 3, to the city workers’ holiday schedule.
