Better Property Board

Bristol Tennessee Better Property Board Minutes May 24, 2012 Members Present: Staff/Others Present: Herb Barker Shari Brown Randy Cook Karl Cooler Wayne Humphrey Jack Hyder Pamela Offield, Chairperson Judy Carrier Members Not Present: Lonnie Barrett The Bristol Tennessee Better Property Board was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2012 by Chairperson Pamela Offield. Minutes Herb Barker made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2012, meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. Preliminary Investigations A. 704 Ash Street Karl Cooler stated that the house was secured but he had been unable to contact the property owner. He also stated that the house had been used as a meth house and would have to properly cleared and certified before it could be re-occupied or torn down. Pam Offield asked Mr. Cooler to explain what “cleared” meant. Mr. Cooler explained that the property would have to be thoroughly cleared of all meth residue by a company certified to do that type of work and then would be tested before being released for occupancy or further action. Wayne Humphrey asked if there would be any problems if the structure was demolished. Mr. Cooler stated that there would be a process to follow because of the contamination. Mr. Cooler asked that the Better Property Board schedule a Public Hearing for 704 Ash Street. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. B. 917 Tennessee Avenue Karl Cooler stated that the house was vacant and he had not received a response from the property owner. He stated that there was overgrowth and tree limbs that needed to be removed. He stated that the tree limb had damaged a portion of the roof and there was also an untagged and inoperable vehicle on the premises. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. C. 253 McDowell Street Mr. Cooler stated that there was an overgrowth problem with the property every year. He stated that he had received complaints of snakes, rats, and groundhogs from the neighbors. Mr. Cooler stated that there was also damage from the April 2011 storm that had not been repaired. Mr. Cooler stated that he had been unable to contact the property owner. Randy Cook made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. D. 512 Taylor Street Karl Cooler sated that he had received numerous complaints from neighbors concerning overgrowth, junk, debris, vehicles, and animals on the property. Mr. Cooler stated that he had sent a letter requesting an inspection but had not been able to contact the property owner. Herb Barker made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012, meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. E. 1547 Valley Drive Karl Cooler stated that he started receiving complaints on the property two years ago. He stated the house does not have electricity or water and the house has been stripped of copper piping and aluminum siding by vandals. Wayne Humphrey made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012, meeting, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. F. 701 5th Street Karl Cooler stated that the house was in very bad shape and the roof had been further damaged by the April 2011 storm and had not been repaired. He stated that there was junk, debris, overgrowth, and vehicles that needed to be cleaned up. Pam Offield asked if someone was living in the home. Mr. Cooler stated that he had not been able to find anyone at the house. Randy Cook made a motion to have a Public Hearing at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Herb Barker. The motion carried unanimously. Public Hearing A. 310 Morris Street Karl Cooler stated that the initial complaint had been received from the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department. Mr. Cooler stated that the property owner had been given 60 days to clean up the yard. He stated that there was junk, debris, animals, and stagnate water in the front yard. Mr. Taylor, the property owner, stated that he used the ponds and barrels for plants and fish and that he kept a mosquito repellent in the water to ward off mosquitoes. Pam Offield asked Mr. Taylor about the debris around the side of the house. Mr. Taylor stated that it was material that he planned to use to build a chicken house. Ms. Offield shared a letter with Mr. Taylor from a neighbor concerning the complaints of the debris and animals. Mr. Taylor stated that he had not received any complaints. Mr. Cooler stated that he had received three complaints from neighbors. Randy Cook stated that the front yard was a mess and he wouldn’t want to live next door to it himself. Mr. Cook asked Mr. Taylor if he could some of ponds and materials to the backyard. Mr. Taylor stated that he had a bad back and could not do his work in the backyard. Ms. Offield asked Mr. Cooler what the City’s position was on the items in the front yard. Mr. Cooler stated that the city wanted the yard cleaned up. Mr. Cooler stated that there were a lot of items in the front yard that was not related to the plants. Randy Cook made a motion that the yard be cleaned up of non-essential materials dealing with the ponds or plants and that there be a Progress Report at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Wayne Humphrey. The motion carried unanimously. Linda Alexander, a neighbor, stated that Mr. Taylor was a veteran and was unable to cleanup the yard himself. She asked if there were any agencies that could help. Wayne Humphrey stated that it was not the purpose of the board to determine who would perform the cleanup. Butch Lane, 309 Morris Street, stated that Mr. Taylor was a veteran and suffered from Agent Orange. He asked that the board be lenient consider giving Mr. Taylor more time to clean up the yard. Randy Cook stated that all the board was asking was that the front yard be cleaned up. B. 307 Carolina Avenue Karl Cooler stated that the house was posted unfit for occupancy. He said that Mr. Hunt, the property owner, had told staff that he we would be finished with repairs by April 2012, but that it was not finished and now the yard is overgrown and there were building materials still in the yard. Karen Lowe, an adjacent neighbor, stated that the building in the backyard was also on her property and she would like to see it torn down. Mr. Cooler told Ms. Lowe that he would speak with her to see if they could find a solution. Randy Cook made a motion to order that the exterior and yard be cleaned up and to have a Progress Report at the June 28, 2012 meeting. The motion carried unanimously. C. 299 Lynwood Street Karl Cooler stated that there was an order to demolish the house in place, and that the property had become overgrown. He stated that since the last meeting the property was now in compliance on the overgrowth and asked that the file on the overgrowth be closed/ Herb Barker made a motion to close the file on the overgrowth, seconded by Wayne Humphrey. The motion carried unanimously. Trash and Debris None Old Business A. 708 Pennsylvania Avenue Mr. Ethridge stated that he had put most of his tools away and the he planned to continue cleaning the yard. He stated that he was still waiting for some items to be picked up and that he was going to haul some things to the junkyard. Karl Cooler asked Mr. Ethridge about the tent and its contents. Mr. Ethridge stated that the still had mantels, a truck bed, a motor stand, jack, and other items stored in the tent. Mr. Cooler asked him when he planned to remove the tent and the contents. Mr. Ethridge stated that he planned to move them to the new garage that he was building. Pam Offield asked Mr. Ethridge if he thought he could be finished. Mr. Ethridge stated that he would try. Mr. Cooler explained to Mr. Ethridge that he was receiving complaints from the neighbors and that he needed to finish the work that needed to be done. Mr. Ethridge stated that he would try to have the tent down in 30 days. Mr. Cooler informed Mr. Ethridge that he could not work on vehicles outside of an enclosed structure. Randy Cook made a motion to have a Progress Report June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Wayne Humphrey. The motion carried unanimously. B. 1014 Anderson Street Karl Cooler stated that he had conducted an interior inspection and found that the house is structurally sound. He stated that the exterior repairs still need to be made. Pam Offield asked how much it would cost to do the repairs that need to be done. Mr. Cooler stated that it would cost approximately $35,000. Mr. Offield asked if the board should invoke the 50% rule Mr. Cooler stated that he could send a letter to the property owner stating that the board was considering rescinding the order to repair and place an order to demolish on the property. Herb Barker made a motion to have a Public Hearing to consider demolition at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. C. 1236 Maryland Avenue Karl Cooler stated that no progress inspections had bee conducted on the house since the repairs had been started. Lonnie Baker, property owner, stated that he expected to have the work finished in a couple of weeks and that he would call for an inspection when he was finished. Mr. Cooler stated that there were still construction supplies in the backyard as well as trash, also the overgrowth had become a problem. Mr. Cooler stated that he neighbors were complaining. Mr. Baker stated that he had completed two rooms and was getting ready to start on the repairs to the kitchen where the fire had taken place. Herb Barker made a motion to have a Progress Report at the June 28, 2012 meeting, seconded by Randy Cook. The motion carried unanimously. Other: A. 920 Holston Avenue Shari Brown reported that there had been an offer on 920 Holston Avenue. She stated that she would keep the board informed of a progress on the property. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:15p.m. ______________________________ Pamela Offield Chairperson