HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mounting frustration with trying to hammer out a new rental inspection program for the city of Hutchinson lead to one member of the Housing Commission threatening to resign.

On Wednesday, the Housing Commission received the first draft of the revised Rental Registration and Inspection ordinance that has been drafted by a sub-committee over the last few months. This draft was accompanied by a red line from the City Attorney that included his comments on the enforceability and legality of the proposed ordinance. That’s been the sticking point ever since the City Council sent the matter back to the Commission questioning whether to continue the program beyond 2019. The changes were necessary after the state restricted the ability of the city to inspect a rental property.

According to new Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok, city staff provided the Commission feedback on the draft ordinance. The efforts to try and get such a program in place while trying to find ways to better enforce it, brought frustration to the point that commission member Tony Findlay threatened to resign his seat. Hvitlok stated Thursday morning that Findlay has not submitted his resignation from the board at this time.

“Understandably there has been a great deal of work put into this program on all sides,” Hvitlok said. “There is frustration from some members regarding the change in state law to how the City can do inspections. That frustration came out when the City Attorney and City Staff reiterated concerns regarding enforceability.”

No action was taken in the matter with the Commission. The City Council scheduled to meet in August to try and come up with solutions to keeping the program running and come up with ways to make sure landlords have safe rental property.