Council kills proposed re-roofing permits

No Helotes resident will be required to apply for a permit when the roof starts leaking.

Helotes City Council unanimously voted Thursday against a measure that would establish a fee for re-roofing on existing residential and commercial structures.

Council member Cynthia Massey said she was vehemently opposed to the ordinance, which would have established permit requirements and fees charged by the city for the installation of roofing materials.

It's another form for the government to get money from citizens for no apparent reason, Massey said. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

City Manager Rick Schroder said that, even if the ordinance passed, enforcement would be a problem, especially if multiple houses were damaged during a hailstorm.

He questioned how quickly a city inspector could get to each battered structure.

Most re-roofing jobs are done because of hail damage, noted Mayor Thomas Schoolcraft. Insurance companies come out for the final inspection. That's why I didn't see a need for this.

In defense of the proposed ordinance, building official Bruce Bealor said the Bexar County Appraisal District raises the value of a house if paperwork concerning a re-roofing job is received by them a process that would happen if the city of Helotes charged a fee.

Other reasons he cited for requiring a permit included the assurance of a cleanup, a way to check that allowable materials be used and ensuring a minimum slope would be installed.

In other action, the council postponed indefinitely approving a lease agreement between the city of Helotes and the Bluff at Old Town Helotes LLC for the lease of a public restroom facility and associated real property located at 14391 Riggs Road.

Continue reading here:
Council kills proposed re-roofing permits