Wauseon City Council voted unanimously to amend the codified ordinances so the council — not the code text — will set building inspection fees, and approved a residential permit fee schedule prepared by Building Inspector Danny Markley to take effect when a mutual-aid contract with Wood County is executed.

The change to section 1301.10(a) and the fee schedule were approved 6-0. Council members also placed and passed Resolution 2025-1 on emergency and final readings, authorizing the mayor to enter the mutual-aid agreement with Wood County for inspection services.

Council members said the change will let the city update rates without repeatedly amending the code. Under the amendment to 1301.10(a), the codified ordinance will no longer list fixed inspection rates; instead the city council will approve inspection rates administratively. The council approved the ordinance amendment on a 6-0 vote moved by Councilor Tierino and seconded by Councilor Simon.

Building Inspector Danny Markley prepared the residential permit fee schedule that the council approved 6-0. City staff said the fee schedule will take effect on the effective date of the new contract with Wood County; staff said the Wood County commissioners were expected to sign the contract soon and the county attorney anticipated execution within about a week. The council voted 6-0 to approve the residential fee structure; the motion was moved by Councilor Heising and seconded by Council President Stickley.

Council discussion noted that taking inspections in-house will reduce the menu of line-item fees used previously and move residential inspection pricing to a base fee plus a per-square-foot component. Staff said Markley has completed required testing to perform many inspections in-house but currently is not licensed for electrical and plumbing work; the city will rely on Wood County for those trades until appropriate licenses are obtained. The Wood County agreement was described in the meeting as a mutual-aid style arrangement to provide help when needed.

The council placed Resolution 2025-1 — authorizing the mayor to enter the mutual-aid inspection agreement with Wood County and declaring an emergency — on emergency reading and passed it, then moved it to final reading and passed it. Votes on the emergency and final readings were recorded as unanimous.

Where action depends on the county, staff emphasized the residential fees are effective only after the Wood County commissioners sign the agreement. No change to electrical or plumbing inspection responsibilities was adopted beyond continuing to rely on Wood County for work Markley is not licensed to perform.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance amendment: Amend Section 1301.10(a) to provide that building inspection fees shall be approved by council. Moved: Councilor Tierino. Second: Councilor Simon. Vote: 6-0, passed.
- Approval: Residential permit fee structure prepared by Building Inspector Danny Markley to be effective on the effective date of the new contract with Wood County. Moved: Councilor Heising. Second: Council President Stickley. Vote: 6-0, passed.
- Resolution 2025-1: Authorize mayor to enter mutual-aid agreement with Wood County for inspection services; declared emergency and placed on final reading. Motion(s): placed on emergency (moved by Councilor Heising; seconded by Councilor Simon) and passed; placed on final reading (moved by Councilor Tierra; seconded by Councilor Schneider) and passed.

The council did not set new, fixed inspection rates in the ordinance text; instead it approved the approach and the specific residential schedule prepared by Markley, contingent on the Wood County contract signature. City staff said Markley is pursuing additional licensing for trades so more inspections can be performed in-house in coming months.

A handful of implementation steps remain: the county’s signature to trigger the fee schedule and continuing reliance on Wood County for electrical and plumbing inspections until local licensing is complete. The council recorded no opposing votes on the measures.