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Council boosts registration fee on rental property

LEETONIA

Village Council Wednesday night approved the final reading of an amended rental property ordinance, but not without some dissension.

Council approved the third and final reading of the amended ordinance, which will increase the registration fee for rental properties and establish a stricter penalty for not paying on time, with a unanimous 5-0 vote, with council President JR Ferry absent. It will take effect in 30 days.

Prior to the vote however, resident Sue Buchanan, who while on council disagreed with the approval of the original ordinance, chided the current council for continuing with the program, noting that it unfairly targets rental property owners, requiring stricter property maintenance than is enforced upon residential homeowners. She also said council is penalizing the rental property owners who pay the fee on time based on a few violators by increasing the fee.

“You need to scrap the whole thing and return to the drawing board,” she said.

Also prior to the vote, Mayor Kevin Siembida offered his opinion on the legislation, saying he felt it is no longer necessary because the original ordinance had been used to help in income tax collection and housing inspections, neither service of which is currently being offered by the village.

With the amendment, property registration will be increased to $20 per year and $50 if not paid on time. Registration fees will be due on May 15 regardless of when the property was originally registered and if the late fee is not paid within 30 days, property owners will be cited into Mayor’s Court, resulting in a $150 fine plus court costs (approximately $90).

Zoning Inspector Bill Pitts last month provided council with a list of rental properties and landlords, noting that he has had trouble getting owners to pay the $10 fee. The original ordinance required rental property owners to pay the $10 fee within 30 days of purchasing the property and renewing the permit before it expires in one year.

Pitts said at that time he has been giving owners 45 days from the expiration of their permits to pay the $10 renewal fee, but that some are not complying and he has had to cite them into mayor’s court to get a response.

Currently there are 87 rental property owners in the village, Pitts said, explaining that he sends out letters with an explanation of the rental registration ordinance and the deadline for payment. He said he wanted the increase because landlords in Leetonia should typically be taking in at least $400 per month and a $10 fee is insignificant to them.

khowell@salemnews.net

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