Unsafe Building and Hearing Authority Meeting Minutes – June 16, 2021

News

I. CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner G. Thomas Gray called to order the regular scheduled meeting of the Unsafe Building &  Hearing Authority at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in the Council Chambers of Martinsville City Hall.

II. ROLL CALL

Commissioner Gray conducted the roll call. The following were present: G. Thomas Gray, Board

Commissioner; Mike Lanam, Board Commissioner; Dwayne Metcalf, Board Commissioner; Dale Coffey, City Attorney; Bob Strader, Building Inspector; Charlie Fraker, City Fire Marshall, Mae Cooper, Administrative Assistant to the Building Inspector; Mac Dunn, City Superintendent; Kenny Costin, Mayor

III. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES

The minutes from the May 19, 2021 meeting were reviewed.  A motion to approve the minutes was made by Commissioner Metcalf and seconded by Commissioner Gray.  Motion passed 3 – 0.

IV. PUBLIC SIGN IN DISCUSSION

Tom Tackett, owner of 1360 S. Harriet Street, was present for the meeting. Commissioner Gray asked if he had anything he would like to say before the demolition bids were opened.  Mr. Tackett asked if this was his appeal hearing.   Commissioner Gray explained the hearing was held the prior month and that he had been given a 10-day demolition notice of the hearing date which was May 16, 2021.  He had been given opportunity to appear at this meeting but did not show up.  Mr. Tackett felt he was not given notice of the time and date of the meeting in May.  Commissioner Gray reminded Mr. Tackett when the meetings are held.  He reminded Mr. Tackett he had attended the October 2020 and the December 2020 meetings to discuss the issues with this property.  Shortly after the December 2020 meeting, Mr. Tackett and Inspector Strader had met at the property to make a list of needed repairs.  Inspector Strader reported, as of today, none of repairs from list had been made.

V. DEMOLITION BIDS

1360 S. Harriet Street:

Three demolition bids were received.  Commissioner Metcalf opened and read aloud each bid:  They are as follows:

  • VSCH – Victor Spina  -$8,500.00 *Incomplete – did not include IDEM approved  \ facility for disposal of material or proof of Insurance
  • Lafary Group Corporation – $4,500.00 Bid was complete.
  • Broyer Construction Inc. – $5,200.00 Bid was complete.

Commissioner Lanam made a motion to accept the bid from Lafary Group Corporation for $4,500.00.  Commissioner Gray seconded the motion.  Motion passed 3 – 0.

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  1. 960 E. Nutter St: There has been no change in the condition of the property.  The owner refused to give permission for Inspector Strader to inspect the interior of the home.  Attorney Coffey will obtain an Administrative Warrant from the court to inspect.
  2. 459 W. Morgan St: A letter was sent by certified mail and regular mail to the deceased owner’s son.  The letter was a request to contact Inspector Strader as it appears the structure is possibly unsafe.  The signed green card has been received by Attorney Coffey; however, there has not been any response from the son.  A motion was made by Commissioner Metcalf to send a letter requesting the son to appear at the July 21st meeting to discuss boarding up the structure.  Commissioner Gray seconded the motion.  Motion passed 3 – 0.
  3. 390 N. Jefferson St: The homeowner recently spoke with Inspector Strader. He said the water infiltration has stopped.  A group of volunteers is scheduled to come back on June 23, 2021 to finish cleaning up the yard.  Tabled for 90 days.
  4. 810 E. Jackson St: Inspector Tumey spoke with the owner. The owner has plans to have a contractor remove the weeds and vegetation that is growing inside the siding and to repair the siding.  Tabled for 60 days.
  5. 139 S. Marion St: The owner has someone who will make the needed repairs.
  6. 749 Morton Ave: Tabled for six months.
  7. 890 N. Main St: Inspector Strader has been in contact with the owner.  The house is currently being roofed.  Tabled for 90 days.
  8. 880 S. Main St: Inspector Strader spoke with the owner.  The owner said he has plans in place to have the house scraped and repainted.
  9. 810 E. Prospect St: The detached garage has gutters and soffit that need repaired.  The Commissioners will monitor the property.
  10. 1070 ½ E. Morgan St: Inspector Strader spoke with the owner of the property.  He was not aware of the broken windows on the structure.  He will take steps to have them repaired.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

  1. Old Morgan County Beverage Building at 189 W. Walnut St: Inspector Strader will contact the owner regarding the broken windows on the 2nd floor of the building.
  2. 1029 E. Warren St: Inspector Strader presented photos of the burned-out storage units and the units that were not destroyed by the fire.  There are people living inside these units.  The photos also show appliances, sharp metal, trash, and debris on the property that pose a safety issue.  Fire Chief Charlie Fraker reported a fence had been placed around the perimeter of the property during the fire investigation.  The investigation was finished at the end of March.  He said the fence was removed around the end of March or first of April.    Inspector Strader spoke with owner two weeks ago. He informed the owner there were people living inside the units still standing and asked him what his plan was to clean up the property.  The owner’s response was he was getting ready to go on vacation and that the people living in the storage units was a police matter and not his problem.  Inspector Strader said nothing has been done since the fire.  He recommended the property be declared an “emergency cleanup”.  When asked by Commissioner Gray if this was an unsafe property, Fire Marshall Fraker confirmed this was unsafe.  He stated the last time he was there he found a syringe laying on the ground on the north side of the property where the jagged metal is laying.  Commissioner Metcalf made a motion to declare the property located at 1029 E. Warren Street an unsafe property, to hold an emergency meeting of the Unsafe Building & Hearing Authority on June 30, 2021, to send a 5-day emergency demolition order to the owner, and to solicit bids for demolition of the two story structure on the south end of the property and cleanup of the entire property with the bids to be opened at the meeting on June 30, 2021.  Commissioner Lanam seconded the motion.  Motion passed 3 – 0.
  3. 389 N. Main St: Inspector Strader gave an update on the progress being made on the property.  He reported all the contents left by the former tenants has been removed from the building.  The owner is putting together plans for remodeling.  He is also talking with a local contractor to do the work.
  4. Commissioner Metcalf requested a clarification on the bid instructions to include the words, “remove the basement structure and to fill it in, clean property, seed and straw”.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Commissioner Lanam to adjourn.  Commissioner Metcalf seconded the motion.

Motion passed 3 – 0.

Minutes submitted by Mae Cooper, Administrative Assistant to the Building Inspector