Capt. Rick Ash of Code Enforcement is requesting the city of Blytheville change an ordinance that requires individuals to have a contractor's license for residential remodeling jobs more than $20,000.
Tuesday night, Ash told the Blytheville City Council's Code Enforcement Committee that the ordinance is handcuffing quality workers, who can do jobs in the county and most of the state that they cannot do in Blytheville because of the law.
The state requires a contractor's license for new residential construction more than $20,000, but that license is not mandated for remodeling. To become a licensed contractor, one must take a test and pay a fee, Ash noted.
"I know a couple of guys in town that do work, and they do good work," Ash said. "But they won't do anything over $20,000 because that's all they do is remodeling."
He suggested raising the $20,000 limit or getting rid of it.
The City Council passed the ordinance in 2007 after several residents reported being swindled.
"I understand what happened," Ash said. "I was working at the Police Department when this happened. We took numerous complaints from people who were ripped off."
However, he said the ordinance only protects jobs more than $20,000.
Instead, Ash suggested requiring the remodelers to carry insurance, which is not in the current ordinance.
"Anyone who does work should be bonded," he said.
Ash said just as a bondsman assures a criminal's appearance in court, the bonding company would be responsible if the remodeler's work isn't up to par.
A couple of mishaps by the remodeler, and he would have trouble being bonded. Then, the city could deny the privilege license request, Ash said.
Chairwoman Carol White said she can empathize with those who were ripped off because she was burned by a local contractor. White said she is currently in litigation over her Blytheville home, which was new when she bought it.
White said the contractor was not licensed as he claimed to be.
She added no work should be done without a code inspector examining it and saying the work is being done properly.
White said that is why they could use four more employees in code enforcement, a request the committee may make in the 2010 budget.
Meanwhile, the committee also looked a condemned housing list and discussed some problem properties in the city.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com