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Residents press council on delayed permits, zoning enforcement and animal/noise complaints
Summary
Several residents reported delays in permit processing and inconsistent code enforcement tied to a zoning inspector’s limited availability; complaints included a $25 permit delay, a leaking sewer lateral at 184 East Tibbetts, and ongoing noise from roosters.
Multiple residents addressed the council Sept. 22 with complaints about zoning, delayed permits, enforcement capacity and nuisance animals.
Oliver Juric said he had been “waiting for 3 months to get a $25 permit,” describing repeated attempts to contact the zoning office and work delayed because the inspector was unavailable. Juric said a generator was running at a property and that meter activation and other inspections remained stalled without zoning sign-off.
Chris Laidlaw reported a contractor at 184 East Tibbetts who replaced a sewer lateral and backfilled it; Laidlaw said repeated attempts to get the work corrected left the sidewalk and yard disturbed all summer. “They backfilled it again. We went without a sidewalk all summer long,” Laidlaw said, describing ongoing drainage and sidewalk problems.
Lorraine Dingle described repeated complaints about roosters next door that wake her household early and cause persistent noise and sanitation impacts; she said city staff had visited but the animals remained. City Manager Kevin Varquette acknowledged staffing constraints in building and zoning and said the zoning inspector had had a medical emergency and staff were working to catch up on open cases.
Juric referenced a zoning code provision and asked about grandfathering for duplex structures; he quoted Section 1274.07 and said the property had two mailboxes and meters. City staff did not resolve the individual case during the meeting but encouraged residents to provide addresses and follow up with the manager’s office.
Ending: Council members asked staff to follow up on specific addresses and to assess whether additional zoning capacity or reassignment was needed; no formal policy change was made at the Sept. 22 meeting.
