April Englund, Amanda Reif and Scott Hams were students at the University of Wisconsin before they died in a house fire in Menomonie, Wis. earlier this month.

Mayor John Inyart wants to avoid a similar situation in Charleston by having stronger enforcement of building codes in the city, especially with the properties that involve students.

However, there have been no reports on what caused the house fire that killed the three Wisconsin students, Inyart said, when he addressed the Home Rule Ad-Hoc Committee on April 8.

A Home Rule system in Charleston would allow city officials the power to authorize actions that are not prohibited by Illinois law.

The duty of the committee is to determine whether or not a measure should be put on the ballot either this year or next year to adopt Home Rule in Charleston.

Under the current system, building code inspections can only be performed if a tenant or landlord requests one. If Home Rule were implemented in Charleston, the city would be able to perform inspections on properties when they see fit.

Inyart said the committee is weighing the advantages and disadvantages of Home Rule on students and community members equally.

“If it doesn’t benefit the students, it won’t benefit the townspeople,” he said.

Eric Wilber, student representative on the City Council, said he believes changing to a Home Rule system would be beneficial to students.

“It would give them a safety net they don’t have right now,” he said.

Wilber said, when the idea of a committee like this was first discussed, he asked Inyart to include a student representative on the committee.

He said Inyart agreed with him and made certain to include the student position in his decisions regarding the committee and Home Rule.

“I think they do want student input on this issue,” he said.

Wilber will name his replacement in July; he said the person who takes his place would have an important role to play in how Home Rule is considered by the committee.

He said it would be up to them to make certain the student position is considered to the fullest. However, Wilber did admit, since Home Rule means the city government has more power over taxes as well as housing code enforcement, students and community members may face higher taxes.

This will not have a great effect on students, and if Home Rule is adopted, students will support the change, he added.

Wilber is not alone in his opinion.

Former student senator William Dougherty called the possible change to Home Rule “a wise idea” for the community.

He said the benefits of such a change for students and community members would probably outweigh the drawbacks.

Dougherty, who represented off-campus students last year, said he, along with many other students, lives in apartments in Charleston that need repair.

He said many students who live off-campus would benefit from the change because of the freedom it would give city officials in performing building code inspections.

Dougherty said the business community of Charleston might also benefit from Home Rule because of the control the city government would have over taxes and land. He said it might even bring in new businesses that would allow students more ways to spend their time in Charleston.

“Besides the obvious business benefits, I think it would be good for students to get behind (Home Rule),” he said.

Jordan Crook can be reached at 581-7495 or at jscrook@eiu.edu.