MONROE - Common Council members Tuesday dismissed a resolution, without taking a vote, to waive the cost of the city's commercial inspection services and building permit fees for the Monroe Clinic hospital project.
Some council members questioned the need for the special meeting, after learning Monroe Clinic did not request the fee waivers.
"Since Monroe Clinic didn't bring it up, I don't see why we're sitting here," Alderman Charles Koch said.
Koch asked Mayor Ron Marsh who had asked the council to consider waiving the fees in the first place.
Marsh said city department heads brought the issue of inspection services possibly costing more than what the permit fees would be able to cover to his attention.
The city anticipates a total of about $59,500 in permit fees for the hospital portion of the project, which covers the cost of inspection services.
The city receives about 20 percent of the fees, with the remaining 80 percent going to cover the cost of the outside inspection firm hired by the city, Building, Zoning and Assessment Consultants LLC.
Codes state the city is responsible for inspection of commercial building projects. The city had the option of waiving all or part of the fees and inspection services for the hospital portion of the project. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has primary responsibility for providing building inspection services for the hospital construction.
Marsh told the council that other cities in similar situations are doing inspections in conjunction with Department of Health Services inspections.
"The Health Department hones in on the health portion of construction, 'health codes,' and likes local communities to issue permits for other (more general construction) portions," he said.
Under the resolution, Marsh would have been given authority to determine, at his discretion, waiving all or part of the cost of inspection services and permit fees.
Council members determined Monroe Clinic would not benefit from the waiving of fees directly. Marsh said subcontractors call for permit fees costs when drawing up bids for the project.
Alderman Jan Lefevre disapproved of the resolution being drawn up without any city committee discussing or requesting one and of paying attorney fees for the unrequested work to create the clinic resolution.
"I don't want this happening," she said.
Marsh said any committee chairman can ask the city attorney for a resolution to be drawn up for consideration at a meeting.
The Monroe Clinic unveiled plans for an $85 million, 210,000-square-foot expansion project June 10. The new hospital facility is expected to opening in the fall 2011.
Some council members questioned the need for the special meeting, after learning Monroe Clinic did not request the fee waivers.
"Since Monroe Clinic didn't bring it up, I don't see why we're sitting here," Alderman Charles Koch said.
Koch asked Mayor Ron Marsh who had asked the council to consider waiving the fees in the first place.
Marsh said city department heads brought the issue of inspection services possibly costing more than what the permit fees would be able to cover to his attention.
The city anticipates a total of about $59,500 in permit fees for the hospital portion of the project, which covers the cost of inspection services.
The city receives about 20 percent of the fees, with the remaining 80 percent going to cover the cost of the outside inspection firm hired by the city, Building, Zoning and Assessment Consultants LLC.
Codes state the city is responsible for inspection of commercial building projects. The city had the option of waiving all or part of the fees and inspection services for the hospital portion of the project. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has primary responsibility for providing building inspection services for the hospital construction.
Marsh told the council that other cities in similar situations are doing inspections in conjunction with Department of Health Services inspections.
"The Health Department hones in on the health portion of construction, 'health codes,' and likes local communities to issue permits for other (more general construction) portions," he said.
Under the resolution, Marsh would have been given authority to determine, at his discretion, waiving all or part of the cost of inspection services and permit fees.
Council members determined Monroe Clinic would not benefit from the waiving of fees directly. Marsh said subcontractors call for permit fees costs when drawing up bids for the project.
Alderman Jan Lefevre disapproved of the resolution being drawn up without any city committee discussing or requesting one and of paying attorney fees for the unrequested work to create the clinic resolution.
"I don't want this happening," she said.
Marsh said any committee chairman can ask the city attorney for a resolution to be drawn up for consideration at a meeting.
The Monroe Clinic unveiled plans for an $85 million, 210,000-square-foot expansion project June 10. The new hospital facility is expected to opening in the fall 2011.