To catch up with the growing list of dilapidated properties to be demolished by city work crews, city leaders are considering holding off on future resolutions pertaining to the actual cleaning of a parcel.
The discussion was held during the recent Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting after Robert Green, the city’s public works director, said city work crews only demolished three dilapidated houses during the month of October.
With a heavy workload, it has become difficult for city work crews to demolish and remove the debris from many of the parcels included in the city’s Resolution C process. The Resolution C process states that city work crews are authorized to use municipal resources or contract labor for the “cleaning of a property deemed to be in a condition that is a menace to public health.”
During the last board meeting, three parcels of property were brought before the city council to enter the Resolution C status. Those parcels included 1264 Gatemouth Moore Dr., 437 Rudy Shields Cir. And 134 Charles Street.
“We have a significant amount of properties that we have to take care of,” said Mayor David Starling. “Do we want to keep loading it up or do we want to approve these and then let the number get down some? Considering how many we already have, would it be wise to let public works try to catch up? Otherwise, we will be playing from behind forever.”
Starling suggested that the board allow city work crews to “get caught up” before the council approves any more parcels to be added to the already long list within the Resolution C process.
“I think that is a great idea,” replied Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas.
Starling said he requested a complete list from the city clerk’s office on what parcels are included in the Resolution C process versus what the city work crews have been able to demolish.
“I am hoping that our community will help us with their properties, and they don’t make it here in front of us,” Starling said. “But this is something we need to talk about. Let us get caught up.”
The city council approved the three parcels within the Resolution C process during the last board meeting.
Later in the meeting, the board approved nine parcels to be included in the Resolution A process, which schedules a public hearing to determine if the parcel is in a “state of uncleanliness constituting a menace to public health, safety and welfare.” Those parcels included 801 Pickett Dr., 656 West Second St., 1219 Lee Ave., 241 Moody St., 214 North Cherry St., 205 Jackson Ave., 215 Moody St., 226 North Cherry St., and 151 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.
