[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6605959,"mediaKeyId","2979637-bd389f256c10129da7006c0054f23952","parentId",2979637,"title","Warr Acres discusses temporary code-enforcement staffing, mayoral appointment and hiring constraints","audioSeconds",364,"startMs",1432000,"endMs",1796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2979637-bd389f256c10129da7006c0054f23952&start=1432&end=1796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2979637-bd389f256c10129da7006c0054f23952/thumbnail_1432000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605959/Warr-Acres/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Warr-Acres-discusses-temporary-code-enforcement-staffing-mayoral-appointment-and-hiring-constraints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605959-4212fa31df7377ed5408061fbcf6c3c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775296260&Signature=hwk0Vbd29SshAjOuPVYYi6RHQxhwxp0TWzDXbB15ggYGh24xDCsAIveCXDbE2q0mH5RZv-R2sggB45zg0tHk6ziTY31oBjDCOKmkf6PsjITx7Yljd4sRJ0dd1GlDaNu3BKrQdSPxTDBntOv1jdnJzBANwYL2VtYH~O5SOlXM7omrTzw9CGClO56u663-jXLLTRChj~oM7NdjXACCdETFkcZYNZeswqxVg3NMiBcd1DXKLBQ48ebBatZ~U8Z-uhp3fDp4Fun7Fd-z-N8CPSmO7jSZ5T7puPuF-jSRia2hrHeD-f3sMwAKPp16xNvxseiTEq-443icl2iOCHMPTgwi4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Warr Acres, OK","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Warr Acres City Council held an extended discussion about temporary code-enforcement coverage, possible reassignments of existing staff and constraints on hiring a permanent code enforcer.

The conversation began when staff and council members raised that the city lacks an available inspector and has ongoing code and permit workload. Council members discussed using OMMS for short-term inspection services (covered in a separate agenda item) and separately examined how the city will handle day-to-day code enforcement until a permanent hire is made.

Key points discussed:
- Temporary reassignment: Council members discussed moving a current city employee (identified in the meeting as John) from the city clerk/front-desk duties to code enforcement so the front-desk vacancy could be advertised and filled. Several council members and staff described this as an operational choice to open a hiring pipeline; some expressed concern about leaving the front desk short-staffed during the transition.
- Charter and mayoral appointment: The mayor (referred to in the meeting as Vicky) may appoint herself or others to positions provided no extra compensation is paid, per the city charter language discussed in the meeting. Some council members expressed reservations about asking the mayor to take on code-enforcement duties because the mayoral role is unpaid and the added workload could be significant.
- Certification and licensing constraints: Staff explained the distinction between code enforcers and licensed inspectors. Code enforcement officers have up to 12 months to obtain required certification; inspectors must hold a license to perform inspections. The meeting also noted that municipalities with a population under 10,000 are not required to have licensed inspectors, a threshold the city crossed in prior years. These rules affect how quickly the city can staff enforcement roles.
- Hiring constraints and bonding: Staff reported they cannot advertise for or hire a replacement for the front-desk position until the current employee's position is formally vacated. The clerk's office also indicated it cannot hire temporary workers to handle city funds because they must be bonded; that limits short-term clerical solutions.
- Operational concerns: Council members discussed seasonal enforcement workloads (e.g., how summer months increase tall‑grass and trash complaints) and liability issues when police officers perform code duties. The city attorney cautioned against conflating law‑enforcement authority with civilian code duties because it can create enforcement and liability problems.

No formal council vote on staff reassignments or mayoral appointments was recorded in the meeting. Several council members voiced support for moving John to code enforcement while allowing him to continue assisting at the front desk as needed; staff said they will proceed with the administrative steps required to open and advertise the clerical vacancy once the reassignment is formalized.

Ending: Council agreed to pursue a short-term, internal reassignment to cover code enforcement while continuing recruitment plans for a permanent solution; staff will return with a timeline and any required administrative actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Meeting April 8th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members discussed moving a current city employee to serve as interim code enforcement, hiring constraints tied to an existing vacancy, certification timelines and liability. No formal appointment vote was recorded; council signaled support for a temporary reassignment while staff pursue hiring steps.","taxTitle","Warr Acres, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma","taxId",69239,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605963,"Warr Acres approves OMMS contract for contract inspection services amid backlog",1407,11000,1418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2979637-bd389f256c10129da7006c0054f23952&start=11&end=1418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2979637-bd389f256c10129da7006c0054f23952/thumbnail_11000.jpg","/articles/6605963/Warr-Acres/Oklahoma-County/Oklahoma/Warr-Acres-approves-OMMS-contract-for-contract-inspection-services-amid-backlog","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605963-a218d0c224cb133357fbbf7f19eec387/orig.mp4?Expires=1775296260&Signature=JTk~WE4j8S16mCQQWRWy2Yn2EMl1zu-w6r3EUX2-OWLsX176cEg7eYl9psg2lGTeBKkZv2RSkJupwZz1YB41Q0gfWBhotF5N7jLv3YS2FGhkc7QgIQbsBIxdI~4RKZKgNay-yE0KgbGPF-huJrUYn0UqR7tunrX0c9uEftHDaS2U2gVoobQU~4PBcnmfYPnUXY65hLSQLFydokaJ-s0Y-a4QYuwR4SjBzUVK2c8ZCqrxkccfSYcj~hD2e9lIPnS2LhIy3257Ymw7frYfDyyWFS3UtzAkAYrg5g8nareN6hkBrqnC0CqX2LBea3s4QvDefi0a54rhSO5ymdiSEw9FcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Warr Acres City Council approved a fee-for-service contract with OMMS for contract inspection services after a debate about a growing backlog of building inspections, the use of remote inspections and liability concerns.

City staff and council members said the contract is intended as short-term relief while the city addresses an immediate backlog of permit requests, including roughly 59 pending inspections in the Cherokee Crossing subdivision. Staff reported OMMS charges an inspection rate of about $75 per hour, reimburses mileage at the standard government/IRS rate (discussed in the meeting as about $0.70 per mile) and bills for travel time; travel to Warr Acres from Tulsa was estimated to require about three hours round trip.

Council members and staff described two inspection modes OMMS offers: in-person inspections and a remote option in which a city employee or homeowner walks an OMMS inspector through a property using a smartphone video call. Several council members expressed skepticism about the ability of remote inspections to capture required details on site. City staff described the remote option as a way to provide at least some inspections for very small communities that cannot afford or cannot immediately hire a full-time inspector.

The discussion reviewed staffing constraints and options for short-term help. Staff said OMMS indicated they could possibly place an inspector quickly — potentially within days if the council approved the contract — and that the OMMS program is structured as a pay-as-you-go, fee-for-service model: if the city does not use inspections in a given month, it does not pay a retainer.

Liability and legal limits on local authority were key concerns. The city attorney advised that both OMMS and the city are subject to the Oklahoma Tort Claims Act for inspection-related liability, and council members cited a past local case in which an approved footing had to be removed after an error. Those concerns informed requests that the contract remain non-exclusive and be used primarily as a short-term or overflow resource.

Council members also raised the topic of permit fees. Staff acknowledged current permit fees often do not recoup inspection costs; examples given during the meeting included some permit fees of roughly $125 and an anecdote about a $270 air‑conditioning permit in another state. Council members directed staff to study permit-fee schedules for comparable municipalities as a separate follow-up item.

Motion and vote: A council motion to approve the contract with OMMS passed unanimously. The meeting record shows the motion was moved by Judy and seconded (second made on the record but the seconding member’s name was not specified in the audio transcript). Roll call recorded affirmative votes by Myers, Morris, (name recorded as) El Moussaouille, Worley, Fairchild, Schmidt, Evans, Mayer and Maher. The motion’s outcome was recorded as approved.

Next steps noted in the meeting included: signing the fee-for-service contract so OMMS can schedule inspectors as needed; staff preparing a comparative study of local permit fees and a potential future agenda item to consider fee adjustments; and continuing discussions with neighboring municipalities about nonexclusive sharing or temporary borrowing of inspection staff.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion: Approve contract with OMMS for contract inspection services (fee-for-service; non-exclusive). Mover: Judy. Second: not specified on audio. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded as unanimous; tally: 9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain). Notes: $75/hour inspection rate discussed; mileage and travel time to be billed at government standard; contract described as fee-for-service with no retainer required for months without inspections.

Ending: The council characterized the OMMS contract as a short-term “backup” to address immediate demand while the city pursues longer-term staffing and fee adjustments. Staff will return with fee comparisons and any recommended ordinance changes.

","The Warr Acres City Council approved a fee-for-service contract with OMMS for building and code inspections to address a backlog of complaints and permit requests. Council members debated the use of remote inspections, liability exposure, inspector availability and permit fee adequacy before voting to approve the contract.","actionData","errors"]

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Warr Acres discusses temporary code-enforcement staffing, mayoral appointment and hiring constraints

Warr Acres approves OMMS contract for contract inspection services amid backlog