MAUMEE, Ohio — Katherine Stark has been a landlord for 24 years and is one of many across Maumee who are outspoken about Issue 2, a rental property ordinance on the November ballot.
"I just feel like it's unnecessary," Stark said. "There are lots of codes and ordinances and procedures on the books that can be utilized for the safety of tenants."
The ordinance is only for non-owner occupied rental properties, which the city says makes up about a quarter of all housing.
"We brought it forward because we had a number of rental homes that were becoming dilapidated that aren't always easy to see on the outside," said city administrator Patrick Burtch.
Inside the 37-page ordinance is a list of requirements, ranging from keeping the outside clean to having a bathroom on every floor with a bedroom.
The city says inspections last three years and cost on average about $50.
"Council was trying to implement some kind of inspection program on an every 3-4 year basis to make sure that rental housing was being kept up in a way that protected our most marginalized populations," Burtch said.
It originally passed in March of 2023. A month later, residents gathered enough signatures and submitted a petition to the Lucas County Board of Elections opposing it. However, a vote couldn't be had.
The deadline to verify submitted signatures for a November vote is Aug. 9, and the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the city to turn them in on Aug. 7 of that year.
Fast-forward to two weeks ago on Oct. 8, a common pleas judge ruled in favor of the county board of elections after the city filed a lawsuit to have it removed, allowing the ordinance to be put on the ballot.
But Burtch says the city was not trying to silence the people.
"No one is trying to take anyone's voice away," he said. "The issue is whether or not it was properly done and I believe and council believes they have a legal obligation to make sure that things are done right."
Stark says otherwise.
"People want to vote. Just let them vote on it,' she said. "What's the big deal on letting people vote?"
Stark is voting no and has her reasons why she wants everyone to do the same.
"My personal opinion is they should enforce a nuisance ordinance on all property in Maumee, and that would be what would keep the values up, because nobody wants to live next to an eyesore," she said.
The full 37-page ordinance can be read below: