The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-10-19
MAY NAME THREE INSPECTORS
It Is, However, Expected That Enforce
ment of New Ordinances Will Start
With One Official With Idea Others
Will Be Named AS Needed.

Ju5 G6u year ugub " o6CulV inv OAA
actment of building code for the city
of Kenosha terminated successfully
just before one. 'clock this morning
when seventeen of the members of the
council voted for the passage of the
ordinance which has been pending be
fore the council for, the past month and
it will become effective thirty days af-
ter its publication on Thursday.
1t is declared that the ordinance will
not effect building now under con-
struction, but that all buildings started
after the ordinance becomes effective
will be under the provisions of the or
dinance. The final fight for the build
ing code was devoid Of sensational ac-
zion. The council did not reach the
consideration of it until long after
midnight. After the ordinance had
been read Mayor Pfennig made a
strong plea for its passage, urging that
it was the duty of Kenosha to line up
with other progressive cities of the
state in the matter of protecting its
people against the bad forms Of build
ings and with view of securing safer
and more sanitary buildings. There
was no opposition. The ordinance was
put upon its passage and it slipped
through without dissenting voice.
Alderman Herbert Thomey of the third
ward, had been excused before the
ordinance was taken up, but he has
gone on record many times as being
in favor of the ordinance.
The ordinance is not the last word
in building ordinances, but it is
thought that it will pave the way for
the enactment of other ordinances
which will go a long way toward reg
ulatings building in the city. The
state building code is made a part Of
the Kenosha ordinance and this will
make it possible for the local officials
to enforce the state code. Ii was held
that the present ordinance gave the
council power to name one, two or
three inspectors to have charge of
building in the city. It is planned to
try out one inspector and if this is not
sufficient to attend to all the work
second or possibly third inspector
will be put on the city pay roll.
After the ordinance is in effect it
will be necessary for every person
erecting any sort of building within
the limits of the city to secure a per
nit from the building inspector. A
small fee will be charged for the per-
nit and in return for this fee the
building inspector will make investi-
cations of the building to safeguard
the owner Of it against imposition and
to see that the building complies with
the reasonable regulations of the city
and state building codes.
Specifications now in the hands of
contractors will not be effected by the
new building code as it will not be eff
fective until the first Of December. of
course the ordinance gives the build
ing inspector limited powers to de-
mand changes in existing buildings in
the city, but these powers are the same
which have been given to the fire de-
partment under the state laws.
The fight for the passage of some
ordinance to regulate building in the
city has been long drawn out one
More than ten years ago suggestion
was made to the council that a build
ing code was necessary for the city.
Nine years ago next spring a committee
of five contractors and builders was
named by the council to suggest a
building code. This ordinance was
never given a reading by the council.
Efforts had been made to revive the
ordinance from time to time. A
month ago Mayor Pfennig urged the
council TO make new effort to secure
q building code and the code enacted
into ordinance by the meeting of the
council on Monday evening was pro-
posed by the committee on judiciary
with the aid of the state department
Of building. The full text of the new
ordinance will be published in the
Evening News probably on Thursday
evening.