Pelican Rapids landlords push back on rental inspections

Sam Weber / WDAY By Isak Dinesen Today at 10:17 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. — A Lakes Country city is facing backlash for the way it handles rental inspections. Landlords in Pelican Rapids claim the city's criteria for making homes compliant for tenants is too restrictive, with some complaints ending up in court due to disputes. ADVERTISEMENT Some complaints have been brought up multiple times in the span of a year, with the city saying at the time they first needed to be addressed at the committee level. Pelican Rapids has a population of just less than 2,600, according to the last federal census. But multiple landlords say with the city's current policies for getting rental properties up to code, they worry that population could take a hit. "That's my dream, is to retire, come here and work on that, come in the summer and work on it and live here," said Greg Restad, a property owner. Restad bought a condemned property in the city with plans to fix it up. He's put thousands of dollars into fixes and rented it out over the last couple of years, but Restad says the inspection process has been more strict than the state regulations. He says the rules need to be more clear, with better regulation, and says it's unreasonable for some of the repairs to be made in the winter. "I'm hanging on the side of the house trying to put a window in, in 20-mile-per-hour winds, 18 degrees, you're saying you want me to do this all in a month?" Restad said. He says he received more than a dozen violations ranging from improper paint work to not having the right type of smoke alarms. ADVERTISEMENT Last year, the city recommended taking the matter up with its ordinance committee. But at a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, outgoing Pelican Rapids Mayor Brent Frazier said the committee is still reviewing grievances, so Restad is left in limbo. "Just have some consideration and compassion, like they did before," Restad said. Sam Weber / WDAY Other landlords like Michele Jensen tell WDAY News they've wound up in court due to disputes over violations. Kathleen Hoover, another property owner, criticized the city for spending more than $5,000 in legal fees in October and said something needs to be done. "That's a lot of money, and I just don't know that we're getting our return on investment for spending that much money chasing around rental property issues," Hoover said. Restad says he hopes incoming Mayor Don Perrin is more sympathetic to the issue and wants the city to make tiers for rental violations by severity and allow for fewer headaches. ADVERTISEMENT "There's a lot of upset people. Everybody's thinking of pulling out," Restad said. At the City Council's previous meeting, the city offered people the chance to fill out a complaint form on issues related to rental housing, and if proper criteria were met, the city could investigate that complaint. READ MORE BY ISAK DINESEN Fargo business warns of cash-change distraction scam 4h ago Report: Fargo tax incentives bring higher wages, fewer jobs than promised 1d ago Winter warming operations to open at Fargo Resource and Recovery Center 1d ago Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags PELICAN RAPIDS OTTER TAIL COUNTY HOUSING By Isak Dinesen Isak Dinesen joined WDAY-TV as a reporter in September 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin for three years. He graduated from NDSU in 2020, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sports Communication at MSUM. Facebook Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Minnesota Becker County voter's ballot misses deadline by a day as Senate race remains close 4h ago · By Michael McGurran Minnesota Historical society takes next steps after Two Harbors lighthouse fire 9h ago · By Delia Rose Sauer Minnesota Dent mayor-elect suffers life-threatening injuries in accident at Maplewood State Park 11h ago · By Staff reports ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Men's Sports McFeely: Hawaii, somehow, blocks out distractions in paradise 5h ago · By Mike McFeely Business New Fargo coffee shop will feature viral fruit dessert and Vietnamese coffee 16h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson Fargo Pucker Power: Ben Franklin trumpet students compete for best 'siren' sound 4h ago · By Kevin Wallevand Minnesota Becker County voter's ballot misses deadline by a day as Senate race remains close 4h ago · By Michael McGurran