LAHARPE — LaHarpe is one step closer to approving new building incentives that would apply to so-called “tiny homes.”
City Council members were poised Wednesday to approve the new ordinance, but tabled the decision when talk turned to a $500 utility incentive provision.
As written, the ordinance would provide a $500 utility credit to whomever is paying for utilities.
Ray Maloney, who hopes to place a tiny home in LaHarpe in the near future, asked if the incentive could instead go to the property owner.
Council members promised to continue discussions with City Attorney Fred Works, who was not at Wednesday’s meeting.
If approved, the incentives would apply to buildings as small as 500 square feet, including tiny homes. Current ordinances mandate houses be at least 1,000 square feet.
Maloney owns the buildings that house the Regional Rural Technology Center, through which construction trades students have been building one such tiny home.
Maloney noted the tiny homes construction may not continue at the tech center.
Through an agreement with Fort Scott Community College, which had been providing the instructors for the construction classes, Maloney paid for the building materials, and would take possession of the center’s first tiny home when it was complete.
However, construction came to an abrupt halt in March when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools and colleges across the state.
Oversight of the construction program will shift from FSCC to Neosho County Community College, he noted, which adds another wrinkle to Maloney’s dilemma, because NCCC administrators have expressed a desire to start fresh on a new construction project and not complete the one that had already begun.
“Now I’ve got $17,000 in materials on a tiny home with half a roof,” Maloney said.
He likely will have to hire private contractors to finish the project, which will drive up his costs substantially.
Nevertheless, Maloney said he was optimistic the construction trades program is in good hands with Neosho County.
COUNCIL members are once again allowing public access to playground equipment at LaHarpe City Park.
The equipment had been off limits because of the pandemic.
