(COLDWATER, MI) -- The Coldwater City Council has introduced an ordinance that would update the city's property maintenance code, drawing a large crowd of residents to Monday night's meeting.
The proposal would update Coldwater's adoption of the International Property Maintenance Code, which the city first implemented in 2002. The new ordinance would align local rules with the 2024 version of the code and incorporate provisions from the Michigan Housing Law.
City Attorney Amanda O'Boyle told council members the update is part of the city's effort to address properties that repeatedly fail to meet building and maintenance standards.
Under the proposed changes, the city could still take property owners to court over violations. However, O'Boyle said the ordinance would also allow an alternative enforcement process that could ultimately come before the City Council, which would make the final decision on how to proceed.
She estimated the process could give property owners one to two years to bring properties into compliance.
Several residents spoke during the meeting and voiced opposition to the proposal.
The council voted 6-0 to introduce the ordinance. Council members John Petzko and Jim Knaack and Mayor Tom Kramer were absent from the meeting.
The proposal will return to the council for final consideration on March 30.