By the end of the year, anyone wanting to construct, fix or alter their home or business may be looking at a lot of cash, and Grove City Borough must decide how it's going to go about handling new mandates by the Commonwealth.

"This whole thing is an absolute nightmare," said Councilman Bill Limberg at Monday's borough meeting in response to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

Although it was passed by the state in 1999, "it took them until now to know how to implement it," added Borough Manager Terry Farren. "It's such a puzzle to untangle."

Yet, due to the "shoddy" construction practices of some, the state Department of Labor and Industry adopted the new code "for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens," Farren said.

Individuals might have to collect welfare as a result of the new standards, however. Inspection orders could include everything from putting new shingles on your house to moving an electrical outlet inside your home, Farren said.

"A new home may be a $500 to $2,000 raise just for inspections," which will include seven major areas, he added.

If a municipality opts out of administering the complicated code, a state inspector with an attitude could walk in "like a mini-god ... and tell you to rip something out and start over," Limberg said. "There's no recourse."

Contractors may also write additional charges in contracts for inspection delays, Farren added.

The problem the borough would have in securing its own inspector is the thousands it would have to spend in finding someone knowledgeable in all the seven major code areas, which isn't likely, he said. And not meeting the code perfectly could result in a liability issue later.

Another option could be for the borough residents to hire their own building inspectors, Farren said.

Limberg believed the code will only cause more individuals to not report building changes. Farren believed the state should have focused on raising the standards of contractors by certifying their craft.

"They're putting the burden on the inspector, and the same contractors are going out to do the work," he said. "That seems backwards to me."

Farren discussed with the Wolf Creek/Slippery Rock Creek Council of Governments -- a coalition between the borough and Pine, Liberty, Springfield and Wolf Creek townships -- about whether or not it is wise for the municipalities to enforce the code or leave it up to the state. They will report their findings at COG's May meeting.

"The good thing is if no one signs on, the state won't be able to hire enough state inspectors to do this," Limberg said.

COG is discussing whether to sign a cooperative for municipal planning. Basically, it would adopt a plan to work together on planning issues. This could be applied to things like joint zoning and law enforcement efforts, or sharing costs for projects like a recreational area, said council President Randy Riddle after the meeting.

However, Farren said the borough is deeply involved in its comprehensive plan, which the planning commission has been working on for 10 to 12 months. "We don't want this to be sidetracked," he said.

Todd Colosimo, a community development planner with Graney, Grossman, Ray, Colosimo and Associates in Grove City, which is working with the borough's comprehensive plan, doesn't believe the town should enter into the cooperative with COG right away.

It would be better for the borough to finish its plan, which can be used as a model for COG, he said.

"When our planning efforts are completed, it will be very valuable to Grove City, and when it's dovetailed it can be very beneficial to (COG) over the next 10 to 20 years," Farren added.

Council approved a motion to advertise its intent to adopt the cooperative in the future. Riddle added that there are several months before COG members would complete the municipal actions needed to officially begin the cooperative.

The borough received $171,193 in state Community Development Block Grant money which council approved after a public hearing Monday night to go toward housing and sidewalk rehabilitation.

Individuals are encouraged to apply for the sidewalk program, which is in its second year, he said. There is $25,000 set aside to fix sidewalks, which are the responsibility of property owners. The remaining $141,193 will be given for housing rehabilitation.

Council also approved a bid to buy a new utility truck for $111,481 from Commonwealth Utility, Butler. The borough will to sell its old truck for $10,000 to Campbell Tree Service, Slippery Rock, which cuts unwanted branches and limbs from the borough's trees.