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MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY
CORBIN CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD
Regular Scheduled Meeting
March 05, 2007
TIME AND PLACE
A Public Hearing with the Corbin Code Enforcement Board was held Monday, March 05, 2007, at 6:00 P.M. at the Corbin City Hall Government Complex Second Floor Courtroom, Room 202.
Public Hearing Meeting of The Corbin Code Enforcement Board Called to Order
Roll Call / Members Present:
Kyle Jones, Chairman Joe White, Vice Chairmen Trent Knuckles
Others Present Were:
Code Enforcement Officer Frank Burke
Approve the Minutes From Last Meeting: February 05, 2007
Trent Knuckles asked Mr. Burke if he had been able to locate the tape of a Code Meeting in question?
Mr. Burke stated that he had been unable to locate the tape in question but that sworn testimony and the typed minutes should be adequate if legal action was ever initiated.
Motion: Trent Knuckles
2nd : Kyle Jones
All present voted Yea. None opposed.
Motion Carried
- Public Hearings: (No Public Hearings Requested)
- Public Hearing -Default Cases: (No Default Cases This Month)
Old Business:
Gene Collett wishes to address the Board.
Respondent Violation & Location Fine Amount
Gene Collett Property Maintenance $500.00
137-40-19-012 Central St. (Vacant Lot)
Mr. Burke gave some background and recapped the events that led up to the issuance of the citation. Status of Case #0606-098, No response or action taken. Owner approached Officer Burke, when trying to sell the property the lien was identified. It appears that the Realtor never contacted Mr. Collett about the violation. Mr. Collett had moved and did not receive mail at the address of record. Lot is being cleared and cleaned up. Mr. Collett ask that the Board consider releasing the lien due to existing circumstances that caused his unawareness of the problems. Lien in place $550.00.
Mr. Jones asked about the location and date of the infraction.
Mr. Burke stated that it had started in June of last year. The property has been sold and that is when the owner was aware of the citation and present lien.
Mr. Collett stated that he had moved and he was having problems with the mail. Because of the mail issue he never got notification.
Mr. Burke stated that the buyer was out of town but that he had people cleaning it up now.
Mr. Jones asked that Mr. Collett give Mr. Burke his current address and phone number.
Motion made that fine and fees be rescinded and lien released.
Motion: Trent Knuckles
2nd : Kyle Jones
All present voted Yea. None opposed.
Motion Carried
- Regular Business Session Discussions / Announcements :
Mr. Burke asked if the Board had a chance to review the 2003 International Property Maintenance Code? If so were there any questions.
Mr. Knuckles stated that he felt it was very descriptive and felt it was a very good code.
Mr. Burke stated that the 2003 was more up to date than the 1994 now in effect.
The Board asked that Mr. Burke prepare the recommendation to adopt these guideline. Mr. Burke stated that he would try to prepare the ordinance and submit it to the Commission for approval.
Mr. Knuckles told Mr. Burke that he had received a call about burning garbage on Ford Street.
Mr. Burke stated that he had addressed this issue but he had notified the wrong owner. He stated that he is in the process of notifying the rightful violator. Mr. Burke explained the City policy for burning in town.
Discussion of the items left on the Charles Neal property were addressed. Mr. Burke stated that Mr. Danny Wallen had purchased the property and would be cleaning it up.
Status of the Honeycut property was brought up. The Board was updated as to where everything stood. As of this time City Attorney Bob Hammons has not given the OK to proceed with demolition. To date no other response from entities involved. The unemptied dumpster was brought up. Status to be followed up.
Mr. Knuckles asked about a house that had burned on Idaho.
Mr. Burke stated he was not aware of this but would follow it up.
Mr. White asked about the status of the Community Development Block Grant known as the CDBG for the Fifth Street and W. Sixth Street area.
Mr. Burke stated that it was in Frankfort. All paper work had been completed but that there were a few questions still. Some of the properties have changed hands since the project was started which may cause some problems. The grant writers are still optimistic about our chances. There are some money problems in Frankfort.
Update given on the auctioned property located on Roy Kidd Ave.
Mr. White asked if we could invite Ms. Dora Mobley to the next meeting for an update on the Community Development Block Grant, CDBG ?
Mr. Burke stated that he could talk to her. There may be a case where the Code Board would have to be utilized through condemnation, etc. There are about twelve homes slated for demo and rebuild. Numerous others for remodel. $ 1,000,000 doesn't go that far. We had hope to take bids by May or June, so there is still hope something will happen soon.
Mr. Knuckles brought up the fact that nothing is still being done about the animal problems in town. He stated that there is one solution that could work and that is that the City Commission put animal control under the Code Board. The police Department can not handle it at this time. If there were civil penalties instead of criminal penalties they could cite them through the code board.
He stated that many complaints ask why we can't do more about animals. With another person to help with enforcement through Mr. Burke's office, we should be able to handle it.
Mr. Burke stated that he had told the Mayor during other discussions about animal control that he would not volunteer for the job but if it was placed under the Code Board he would do what he could.
Mr. Knuckles stated he felt that it would gave similar results as we have had with old buildings. We have had over 30 structures demolished through Code Board actions but only about 3 or 4 had to be demolished by the city. Peoples have started to realize that there is no way around the end results and they go ahead and do it themselves.
Mr. Burke stated that he felt the Commission needed to address the animal issue now. From exotic pets (pot bellied pigs and dwarf goats), farm animals and live stock to dogs and cats. He stated that it not necessary to try to ban them but some control is needed. Another example is a miniature pony versus a regular pony or horse. Miniature ponies are easier to care for and take less room than a large pet dog. So there are many interesting scenarios that may arise. It's not all black and white. There was supposedly an ordinance that did not allow livestock in the city but he has been unable to find such an ordinance. Horses, pigs, goats and of course dogs and cats are all a problem now. Another issue is how many ? One person has 14 Siberian Huskies, in the house. But when you look at his yard, there is no grass where he lets them out daily. How do you address this issue?
Mr. Knuckles stated that we don't want to do anything that would diminish the effectiveness of the Code Board in regard to Property Maintenance. We have been very successful so far in regard to substandard properties, if this was something that would increase the present work load and jeopardize the effectiveness of the Code Board, we don't want to do it. But if there is a way we could then we should.
Mr. White asked about scanning all the ordinances so that it can be rapidly searched and found.
Mr. Knuckles stated that we have the ordinances on CD.
Mr. Burke explained the content of the CD and how over time older ordinances are inadvertently taken out with no cross referencing, so they become impossible to find. He went on to give some examples.
Mr. White stated that if they were on CD they could be put on a web site for the public.
Mr. Burke explained his situation , time involved , etc. He also stated that the project is a work in progress but proceeding very, very slowly. If the manpower was available to him it would have already been fixed and up and running. Again it is something in the works but he has not had enough backing to get the help necessary. At least two individuals are needed, an Administrative Assistant and a field officer for Code Enforcement.
Mr. Jones asked when will we start enforcing yard maintenance and grass cutting.
Mr. Burke stated that normally he doesn't start until the first of May. The main reason being the weather doesn't cooperate so he gives them the benefit of the doubt. By June the weather is not an issue. Monitoring continues and at that point a citation will be issued if necessary. Initial contact during April/May is a verbal warnings or Red Tagging. If this is not successful, depending on the circumstances they will be cited or he will contract out the mowing of the property.
The next scheduled meeting and public hearing is tentatively set for April 2, 2007.
There being no further business or discussion, the meeting was, on motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, ADJOURNED.
As and for the Code ATTEST:
Enforcement Board
Kyle Jones, Chairman
Administrative Official / Witness
Date: Date:
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