ADRIAN — The city of Adrian’s controversial point-of-sale inspection ordinance for residential properties will be heading to a public vote.

The ordinance, which was passed by a 4-3 vote last summer, requires residential properties in the city to undergo an exterior inspection before they can be sold. Sellers must either fix any problems found by the inspection or put money aside for the buyer to make repairs.

The ordinance will go into effect November 30.

Supporters say the inspections are a tool to fight blight. Opponents say it is government overreach and will disproportionately impact lower-income residents.

A petition drive was successful in gathering enough signatures to force the city commission to either repeal the ordinance or put it up to a public vote.

Speaking before the vote at the commission’s November 18 meeting, several residents urged the commission to repeal the ordinance immediately. 

“I believe the citizens of Adrian have spoken through this petition,” resident Russell Richards said.

Megan Greenwell said the city should put resources into helping people improve their properties instead of going ahead with the inspection ordinance.

“Instead of penalizing people that are already down and out, we should be a community and stand behind them,” she said.

Commissioner Gordon Gauss moved to place the issue on the ballot at the next city election and allow the ordinance to go into effect on November 30 as scheduled, but not begin charging fees for the inspections until after the election.

Commissioner Bob Behnke proposed an amendment under which the repeal would still go to a public vote, but the ordinance would not go into effect at all until voters have had a chance to weigh in.

Behnke’s amendment was rejected on a 4-3 vote that fell along the same lines as the original vote to enact the inspections last summer. Voting for the amendment were Behnke, Commissioner Mary Roberts, and Mayor Angie Sword Heath, all of whom had originally voted against the inspections. Voting against the amendment were Gauss and Commissioners Kelly Castleberry, Doug Miller and Matt Schwartz, all of whom originally voted for the inspections.

After the vote on Behnke’s amendment, the motion to hold a public vote passed 5-2. Voting yes were Castleberry, Gauss, Miller, Roberts and Schwartz. Voting no were Behnke and Heath.

Roberts said she feels it is appropriate to let residents vote. Although she didn’t support the inspection ordinance, she said she knows there are people who do support it and felt too intimidated to speak at meetings.

“A vote is something that we do in private,” she said. “I think we will get a clear rendition of how the whole public feels, not just the ones who are able to come here and are able to speak.”

The next city election will be in either August 2025 or November 2025. The reason that’s unknown is that the city charter requires a primary to be held if there are more than two candidates for any office. The mayor and three commission seats are up for election next year, so if there are more than two candidates for mayor or more than six candidates for the commission, there will be an August primary.

Speaking after the vote, Carrie Smith, one of the organizers of the petition drive, said she was disappointed but not surprised. She said opponents of the inspection ordinance are prepared to campaign for its repeal and to put up candidates for commission seats.