By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — The cost of making Hurricane Ike repairs just got a little cheaper in Nederland.

The city council voted Monday to waive permit fees “as a result of the declared state of disaster” from the Category 2 storm.

City building official Rod Hatch said although the fees are waived, residents must still complete paperwork for permits. The waiver only applies to new permits.

The city also adopted a one time variance to the Code of Ordinances allowing citizens to park travel trailers on their property as repairs to their homes are made.

Mayor Dick Nugent said the trailers must be legitimate travel trailers and connected properly.

Both hurricane-related issues will last through Dec. 31 of this year.

Citizens will also get a pass on penalties for late water and sewer payments “as a result of the declared state of disaster.”

Nugent said the waiver will post-date to the day of the mandatory evacuation order to two weeks.

Clean-up from the storm is going well, the council reported, with the first of three pick-up passes complete and another to start Tuesday morning.

Hurricane Ike also forced the council to amend an ordinance concerning flood plain management.

New construction in the Country Lakes Estate neighborhood, off Holmes Road, will have to be built up one and a half foot above base flood elevation, council voted Monday. Previously, the homes, very closely located to the Rhodair Gully, had to be only one foot.

Hatch said a surveyor sets the base flood elevation.

In other council business, councilmembers welcomed new city manager Christopher Duque, who officially takes over the position Tuesday.