Better Property Board

Bristol Tennessee Better Property Board Minutes March 22, 2012 Members Present: Staff/Others Present: Herb Barker Shari Brown Lonnie Barrett Karl Cooler Randy Cook Jack Hyder Wayne Humphrey Judy Carrier Pamela Offield, Chairperson Members Not Present: The Bristol Tennessee Better Property Board was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2012 by Chairperson Pamela Offield. Minutes Lonnie stated that there were two corrections that needed to be made to the minutes of the February 23, 2012 meeting:  The spelling of the word rescind needed to be corrected.  Change the word Chairwoman to Chairman on the signature line. Randy Cook made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2012, meeting with the noted corrections, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. Preliminary Investigations None Public Hearing A. 930 Hill Street Karl Cooler stated that the item had been tabled in order to allow John and Amy Landers time to purchase the property. Ms. Landers stated that they were still trying to work with the collection agency that had obtained ownership of the house. She stated that she and her husband had cleaned up the yard. Karl Cooler stated that he had sent notices to the mortgage company and the collection agency to offer help in resolving the issue and speed up the process so that the Landers’ could purchase the property but had not received a response Pam Offield asked Ms. Landers what would be her next step if she could not get the collection agency to respond. Jack Hyder stated that they would not be able to purchase the property. Wayne Humphrey asked if the Landers could purchase the property if the property taxes were in default. Jack Hyder stated that it would be several years before the property would be able to be purchased for taxes in default. Mr. Cooler asked Ms. Landers if they could install a piece of plywood over the door to secure the house. Ms. Landers said that they would secure the house. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to table the Public Hearing for 90 days until the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Lonnie Barrett. The motion carried unanimously. B. 621 Florida Avenue Karl Cooler stated that he had spoken with the property owner and was told that he would not be able to attend the meeting. Mr. Cooler stated that the property had been cleaned up since the property owner had received notice and recommended closing the file. Lonnie Barrett made a motion to close the file, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. Trash and Debris None Old Business A. 237 Grove Park Drive Karl Cooler stated that a permit had been issued and some activity had been started. He stated that materials had been taken out of the house with no dumpster on site. He stated that the family knew they were under a critical timetable and understood what they were supposed to do in following the engineer’s report. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. B. 708 Pennsylvania Avenue Karl Cooler stated that he had not been able to get in touch with Mr. Ethridge. Mr. Cooler stated that he and Shari Brown, Community Development Director, had spoken and agreed that time had run out and that further steps needed to be taken to insure the clean up of the property. Mr. Cooler stated that staff had offered Mr. and Mrs. Ethridge help through the CDBG Program, but they had refused the help. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Lonnie Barrett. The motion carried unanimously. C. 312 Carolina Avenue Karl Cooler stated that he went by the house and found that the front yard had been cleaned up and recommended closing the file. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to close the file, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. D. 1236 Maryland Karl Cooler stated that the property had been before the board for almost two years. He stated that Mr. Baker, the property owner, had hired a plumber and an electrician and he hoped to have the house livable in 60 days. Herb Barker made a motion to have a progress report at the May 24, 2012 meeting, seconded by Lonnie Barrett. The motion carried unanimously. E. 1014 Anderson Street Karl Cooler stated that according to the engineer’s report some areas of the foundation needed to be repaired, and that it was repairable. Mr. Cooler stated that a letter had been sent to Mr. Trivette, the property owner, asking him to allow an interior inspection. Mr. Trivette, the property owner, stated that he had met with a contractor and was going to receive an estimate the next week. He stated that he would need to be given a notice to have an interior inspection conducted to allow him to work around his job. Mr. Cooler stated that he would meet Mr. Trivette after hours if it would help. Mr. Trivette agreed to arrange a meeting time with Mr. Cooler to conduct the inspection. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. F. 307 Carolina Avenue Karl Cooler stated that Mr. Hunt, the property owner, had been before the board for a couple of years and that the permit that had been issued had expired. He stated that he had spoken with Mr. Hunt and he planned to have the repairs finished by April 2012. Herb Barker made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Lonnie Barrett. The motion carried unanimously. G. 1124 Broad Street Karl Cooler stated that Mr. Lyons had sold the property to Mr. Minton, the contractor that performed repair work on the house previously. He stated that Mr. Minton had obtained a permit and begun work on the house. Mr. Minton hopes to be finished with the repairs by April 2012. Lonnie Barrett made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Wayne Humphrey. The motion carried unanimously. H. 328 Pennsylvania Avenue Karl Cooler stated that Richard Leonard, grandson of the property owner, had hoped to obtain the property. Mr. Cooler read a letter from an attorney that stated that the property was going to be sold with the proceeds going to TennCare. Mr. Cooler recommended granting the attorney’s request that the demolition be postponed to allow them time to sell the property. Randy Cook made a motion to have a progress report at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Lonnie Barrett. The motion carried unanimously. I. 1407 6th Street Extension Karl Cooler stated that the demolition was complete and recommended closing the file. Herb Barker made a motion to close the file, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. J. 108 Bristol College Drive Karl Cooler stated that the building had been demolished, but the mobile units were still standing. Mr. Cooler stated that he had been unable to contact Mr. Kistner, the property owner, concerning the completion of the demolition. Lonnie Barrett made a motion to have a progress report at the April 26, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. Other: Karl Cooler gave an update on 1030 Hill Street with the Better Property Board, saying that work on the house was progressing nicely and shared some pictures of the completed back porch and the painting that was taking place. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. ______________________________ Pamela Offield Chairperson