Fulton schedules town hall about rentals

Residents invited to give input Tuesday about proposed inspection program

Fulton City Hall
Fulton City Hall

Fulton city officials are planning a town hall this week to discuss rental property inspections.

The public gathering is planned 6:15-7:15 p.m. Tuesday in City Council chambers, 18 E. 4th St.

"We've done these before in the past and it generally leads to more discussion," City Administrator Bill Johnson said.

All Fulton residents are welcome to attend and share their opinions with City Council members, Mayor LeRoy Benton and other city officials.

A regular City Council meeting will follow the town hall.

Fulton's housing inventory is about 40-45 percent rental properties, as opposed to owner-occupied dwellings.

"Some of those are in bad shape," Johnson said. "Because we have no inspection program, we have no idea of coming up with an estimate of the number (in unsafe condition)."

It would take several months to get a rental housing inspection program up and running, and months from that point to get all the properties inspected, he added.

"With the number we have in this town it will take us months to get around to inspecting all these properties," he said. "We just want people to come to the town hall. We want to know their opinions."

Ward 4 Councileman Steve Moore said the rental inspection program is something he's been interested in for a long time.

"We've been putting it off for years," he said. "There is a serious issue in this town."

A rental inspection, Moore added, would simply make sure accommodations are safe: windows and doors lock, there are at least two doors leading from the dwelling, the roof is right and tight, and more.

At the regular meeting, the  council will make appointments to boards and talk about the refurbished sewer plant project, which was supposed to be completed in July. Construction is still underway and could be done by March. Extra costs will be paid by the contractor, Johnson said.

Busy new year

Looking forward to this new year, several big projects are planned. One is the complete refurbishment of U.S. Business 54, a project shared with the state Department of Transportation. The city's portion is from the 2nd Street roundabout north to 12th Street.

"There's so much involved in that project," Johnson said. "We've already done some underground utilities work."

Much of the utilities will be buried underground, which will clean up the overhead appearance of the street, particularly at the intersection of St. Louis, Bluff and Market streets. Major work is predicted to start in the late spring or summer.

The combined Fulton-MoDOT projects also include street lighting, sidewalks, and curb and gutter, from the south side of Fulton to the north end.

"Both of these will cause some inconveniences, but it will be worth it in the end product," Johnson said. "It's going to be beautiful and give a new feel to that corridor."

The 2018 year also will bring finishing touches to a 4th Street project from Westminster College to downtown Fulton and completion of the sewer plant.