New building fees being set in Chinook

After decertifying Chinook's buildilng codes back in April, City Council began Thursday night looking at setting new building permit fees for non-commercial construction.

The decertification left the state in charge of tracking commercial construction, while the city would have to track non-commercial projects.

The original proposal was a $100 permit for anything building-related, construction, renovation or demolition, with a $15 sign and fence permit and a $10 sidewalk permit.

Keith Hanson, publisher of the Blaine County Journal-News Opinion who has filed to run for the council this fall, told the council that he thought it was not right to charge a fee for demolition.

"Why charge a $100 fee?," Hanson said. "They're beautifying that lot."

He said he'd helped take down a few buildings before and, before fees like the council was considering, the process already costs around $3,000.

"All they're doing is removing a fire hazard or an eyesore."

Council member Heath Richman, who was sitting behind the gavel for an absent Mayor Jamie Neibauer, said the city didn't want to get in the way.

"We're not trying to penalize the people that are doing a service to the city," Richman said.

Lorraine Mulonet, Chinook city clerk, said that the fees had in the past been around $21 for most properties in town and thought the increase might be a bit steep.

The council lowered the demolition fee to $25 and passed those changes.