The City Council’s approval of two single family housing ordinances took less than half the time of a discussion about a proposed rental licensing fee Tuesday night.

Buyers of a house formerly in the rental market can now receive a $5,000 grant from the city’s general revenue and be exempt from applicable permit fees to convert the property into a single family home. City Manager Jeff Doherty was also given authorization to apply for a grant program offered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The grant would go to low-income residents of single family homes for improvements to their properties.

The grant would be issued by IHDA to the city, which could be as much as $420,000, Doherty said. A city staff committee would then dispense the allocated funds to receiving homes. The same committee decides a receptive home using a point scale, which judges the household’s income, age and current condition. A home can receive a maximum of $40,000.

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The ordinance was approved unanimously, and received praise from Councilwoman Mary Pohlmann and Mayor Brad Cole.

“We’ve been very fortunate in receiving the grant funds (in the past),” Cole said. Carbondale has received the grant from IHDA since 1999.

The single family housing conversion program also received a unanimous approval by City Council members.

A budget adjustment was included in the vote, which transfers $25,000 from the City’s general revenue to the fiscal year 2008 budget. The adjustment allows the program, previously unfunded in the original budget, to be carried out, Doherty said.

Councilman Chris Wissmann suggested an amendment to the proposal by requiring the $5,000 grant be used on improvements to the home. Such restrictions were left out of the proposal to allow homeowners to use the grant as a down payment on the house, Cole said in response.

“This is about helping people achieve the American dream, which is home ownership,” Cole said.

Carbondale has a problem with the state of its rental properties, said Councilman Lance Jack, who was one of several participants in a discussion about a proposed $35 per yearly fee on rental units for landlords. The allocated funds would increase the number of rental property inspectors to better carry out mandatory, three year inspections.

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A number of concerns by the Chamber of Commerce and members of the City Council were the reason for a delayed vote in the ordinance, which is now scheduled for Nov. 6, Doherty said.

Jack was one of many who said charging $35 to each landlord, and not just to those requiring a follow-up inspection, is an unfair burden to share.

Jane Adams and Sandy Litecky, members of the Arbor District housing area, told City Council members to charge landlords the $35 fee for three years before considering an amendment.

“We’re talking about the safety of people,” Litecky said.

Daily Egyptian reporter Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 274 or [email protected].