BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council decided Tuesday that residential contractors will need to be licensed if they are doing any construction work in the city.
Building Inspector Jared Thomas researched and wrote the draft ordinance, and City Engineer Jackie Lanning said a contractors’ roundtable raised questions and presented information.
The ordinance covers contractors whose work requires a building permit, such as concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, remodeling, siding, rough framing; all phases of new construction, alteration, additions, and repair or demolition. It would not apply to finishing work that does not require a building permit, such as sheet rock, painting, flooring, or similar work.
Contractors would be required to have minimum liability coverage and workers comp and proof of South Dakota excise tax.
Charles WallowingBull Jr., owner of CWB Construction, said he was in favor of the ordinance because it protects homeowners. He added that a fair amount of his business is correcting projects after a contractor or even a do-it-yourself homeowner has taken on a project. The ordinance will protect contractors, as well, he added.
George Houtman, owner of Houtman Construction, is also on the Board of Adjustment.
He said the board has seen lots of requests for variances for decks and driveways that were built incorrectly. The ordinance will help the city enforce the rules and help keep people from tearing stuff out on their own.
Councilor Mary Kidwiler said people are very susceptible to scams and asked how the city can protect the public from unlicensed “guys driving around” telling homeowners that their roof needs to be fixed right away.
Public education, answered City Manager Jeff Weldon. People need to ask around about the person or company they plan to hire and educate themselves about what needs to be done on the project.
Councilor Nick Wendell asked about the process and when the fee would be due.
Lanning said the process was similar to the plumbers licensing program. A letter will go out in January to notify contractors the fee is due. The fee is the same no matter what month they pay it, she added.
In a related matter, the council approved a new fee payment schedule of $75 annually for the residential contractor’s license. The program goes into effect in January 2018.
In other business, the council:
• Approved establishing an investment board for the Brookings Health System Investment Authority. City Attorney Steve Britzman was instructed to do more research on how it would move forward.
• Amended the appointment process for the Swiftel Center Advisory Board to shift to the city council because the county board is no longer involved with the County Resource Center, which is attached to the Swiftel Center.
• Approved the final budget amendment before the fiscal year was closed out. Councilor Patty Bacon noted the city is “in much better shape than we projected.”
• Authorized the 2014 assessment costs for Prairie Hills LLC, Brookings School District, City of Brookings, Christie Family Trust and Taylor properties to be reassessed for the construction at Main Avenue South and 26th Street South.
The council’s next meeting is Jan. 9.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
