Benefiting the non-profit group Habitat for Humanity, City Council members agreed to waive impact fees and reduce other building fees for the second Habitat house constructed in town.
Debbie Wieneke, executive director of habitat, appeared before the Council Tuesday, Jan. 17, requesting the council waive the fees for the building permit, the subcontractor’s fees, lot split fees and any other application fees for the next build which is located at 445 N. Davis St.
“We already have a singlemama with three children,” Wieneke said of the tenants for the newest project. She said Habitat had already paid a $250 lot split fee to the city.
“We had such a positive experience with the Pea Ridge community, the Council, the mayor and everybody that we’re excited to be doing it again,” Wieneke said Tuesday, Jan. 24. Habitat constructed a house in 2010 on the corner of North Davis and Tinnin streets and the city waived impact fees then, also.
The organization was given a lot and house, which will be torndown and two very small lots. The three were split to create two lots, she said.
“We tried to keep the tress in the north corner,” Wieneke said.
The house will be “cleaned away.”
“It’s what we call a harvest project ... we’ll salvage everything we can. Our goal is to keep as much of it as possible out of the landfill. We’ll bring what we can to the ReStore,” Wieneke said.
A family from Pea Ridge applied and was approved.
“It’s just a good fit. The children already go to school there. The grandma lives there. They have huge ties to Pea Ridge.”
Work should begin on the project next week with a groundbreaking slated for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.
21.
At the regular meeting, council members debated various ways to alleviate the costs to Habitat with council woman Nadine Telgemeier repeatedly asking why they don’t waive all fees. Councilmen Steve Guthrie and Bob Cottingham pointed out that thecity building inspector still had to make multiple inspections, costing the city money in labor and gasoline.
“We still have to pay for Tony’s time,” Cottingham said. “It’s a very worthycause.”
“We are still responsible to the taxpayers,” Guthrie said.
The council’s action saved Habitat about $2,500, Sandy Button, city recorder/treasurer, said.
News, Pages 1 on 01/25/2012