Borough Mayor Vetoes Building Code Exemptions

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

Borough Mayor Dan Rohrer vetoed the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly’s decision to grant building code exemptions to some homes outside the city limits. He filed the veto today and included a letter listing his reasons.

First, Rohrer writes that the veto reflects what he’s heard from the community based on public comment at meetings. He goes onto explain that the exemption wouldn’t be consistent with the memorandum of agreement the borough holds with the city to share one building department, and that the MOA does not allow for an optional building code.

Lastly, he talks about safety concerns and the possibility that exemptions may lose the borough the fire service it’s had through mutual aid agreements.

Rohrer writes that he does see challenges with the building code, but that there are better ways to address them.

According to borough code, the assembly may override a veto such as this one by a two-thirds vote within 21 days or at the next regular meeting – which, for the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly, is March 9.