Du Quoin moves on rental inspection program

Du Quoin leaders are moving forward on a proposed ordinance requiring inspections of rental properties in the city, although separate provisions dealing with owner-occupied real estate will get further attention from realty professionals before proceeding.

<span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_587_771" tabindex="0">At Monday's city council meeting, commissioners made progress on a proposed ordinance that would require a complete inspection of any rental unit before it is rented to a new occupant.</span> The inspection cost would fall on the property owner, who would get to pick a licensed inspector, and electric and water service could not be turned on until the inspection terms have been satisfied and a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the city clerk's office.

"There are a lot of communities our size that do this," city attorney Aaron Atkins said while detailing the ordinance. "If we want to improve our housing stock in Du Quoin and improve our neighborhoods, something has to be done."

Formal passage of the ordinance could come as soon as the council's next meeting.

Separate provisions in the proposal would require a similar inspection when real estate is sold in the city, although commissioners expressed concern that such measures could unnecessarily dampen the real estate market and would constitute, in the words of Commissioner Chuck Genesio, an "overreach."

Mayor Guy Alongi was sympathetic to those concerns and said he didn't want to move forward on that part of the ordinance until hearing from the city's real estate professionals.

"I'm not moving forward with a code change until we bring the real estate people to the table," Alongi said. "We're not wanting to run anything down anybody's throats."

The provision governing rental properties follows two high-profile condemnations in the last six months. In October, the city shut down the Elkhurst Apartments after learning of major life-safety issues in the building. Last month, the city condemned the Midwest Inn as a result of similar issues.

"At some point the rubber meets the road," Alongi said of the current proposal's timing.