After much adieu Galesburg has a new rental licensing program and a new set of minimum housing standards.
Galesburg Alderman approved the rental program but a 5-2 vote, and the housing standards by a 6-1 vote, Russell Fleming opposing both.
City Manager Todd Thompson says the advantage of the new housing standards are that some uncertainties over code violations are cleared up.
He adds that the city now is better equipped to deal with housing violations with a number of tools to enforce violations.
But he says it’s just a part of a comprehensive program to address “nuisance” properties.
Fleming made a motion to table the rental licensing ordinance once again but only Angela Bastian joined him.
Bastian did put forth an amendment that was added which requires anyone making a third party complaint about a rental unit to leave their phone number in addition to other information, which led to a lengthy discussion.
Alderman Jeremy Karlin didn’t support the addition.
“Are there situations where we should guard against people making baseless claims?” asked Karlin. “Well yeah I mean I think that’s probably what the intent of that language is but I think it’s gone overboard.”
Karlin opposed because he thought it would have a “chilling effect” on violation reports but he was outnumbered the amendment passed.
