Arnold Considering More Frequent Building Inspections

The Arnold City Council is considering more frequent building inspections because some property owners are evading the inspection process and are no longer making needed repairs.

“It’s really disturbing to see something like Coach Mobile Home Park, which was state of the art in the 1970s, go into its current condition,” Mayor Ron Counts said during a recent council work session.

City building inspectors review buildings or apartments prior to each new tenant, Counts said. The city relies on the change of utilities report to learn of new renters or owners.

Some property managers, however, never report the utility change—the utilities remain in the name of the apartment complex or the manager agrees to pay the utility bill without changing the name on the account—and sidestep the inspection process.

“So our people (city staffers) cannot inspect the buildings and determine the needed repairs,” Counts said.

In one instance, Counts said, a person lived a home filled with mold.

“There was so much mold that it turned a wall green, and the neighborhood smelled when the person opened the door,” Counts said.

Counts is concerned that a lack of code enforcement would lead to quickly deteriorating neighborhoods in Arnold.

“When done correctly, these inspections are not a problem,” Counts said.

Counts asked city staff and council members to research other cities’ inspection policies, and then bring ideas to another work session in the summer.