Kennett City Council discusses provisional licensing, inspections for landlord Riley Cook’s properties

Kennett City — City staff updated the Kennett City Council on compliance work at rental properties owned by Riley Cook and discussed a proposal to grant a provisional rental license for occupied units while inspections continue; the council did not take a formal vote.

City Administrator Ras Houston told the council that Cook had been working to bring properties up to code but that a number of units still require repair and inspection. Staff reported that, of five properties still in Cook’s name from an earlier list, two have passed inspection and three remain to be completed; inspectors told the council those remaining units must be finished by Sept. 12. Council members and staff emphasized inspections will prioritize occupied units and that immediate life‑safety issues will be fixed the same day or the utility will be shut off.

The discussion focused on three practical points: the condition and inspection status of dozens of units in Cook’s portfolio, the city’s current legal authority to issue a so‑called provisional license, and operational steps for utilities and inspections. Staff said Cook has been working on properties returned to him and that most outstanding problems are electrical (exposed wiring), trash and sanitation, and missing or nonfunctional smoke detectors — items staff classed as life‑safety or urgent when present. City staff reported they had inspected several of the 97 properties referenced in the agreement connected to this matter; five of those properties were inspected in the most recent round and several occupied units still need final passing inspections.

Council members proposed limiting any provisional license to occupied units only, with vacant properties addressed after the occupied units pass inspection. Several council members and staff said the current ordinance does not clearly authorize provisional licensing as written, and they discussed bringing an amendment to the ordinance back at the next meeting (two readings were suggested) to create a formal provisional‑license process. City staff said they would continue inspections, prioritize occupied units, and return with a progress report at each council meeting; the council did not record a formal motion or vote on a provisional license at this meeting.

Staff also clarified operational controls for utilities: the city allows a 48‑hour turn‑on of utilities without a deposit for inspection purposes when staff approve it, after which standard utility deposit rules apply. Council members asked staff to document the specific addresses inspected and to be prepared to revoke a landlord license if terms and timelines are not met. Several council members said their intent was to preserve any momentum in getting units repaired while protecting tenants from being displaced as long as life‑safety hazards are addressed.

What happens next: staff will continue to inspect properties, prioritize occupied units, track which utilities are placed in whose name, and report back at the next council meeting. Council members indicated they will consider an ordinance amendment to formalize provisional licensing before approving any broad license for all properties in a large portfolio.

Votes at a glance: No formal motion or final vote on a provisional license for Riley Cook was recorded during this meeting; council discussion resulted in staff directions to continue prioritized inspections and to return with ordinance language and progress updates.