By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
While it may not have been on the agenda, the Bucyrus Health and Safety Committee did discuss the recent backlash over the property maintenance letters Thursday night.
Enforcement of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), which the city adopted last in 2013, resulted in 300 letters being sent to homeowners throughout the city. A few of those owners appeared before council Tuesday night to voice their concerns. During Thursday’s committee meetings Health and Safety chair Steve Pifer explained that he didn’t want people to think that they were going to go to jail.
Law Director Rob Ratliff explained that it wasn’t his intention to have people afraid that they were going to go to jail.
“Anyone who gets a letter should contact my office. We want to help, we want to pair up individuals with volunteers, or possibly send assets their way in order to help with maintenance and upkeep,” Ratliff said. “There will be no charges filed in 3-6 months, and only those egregious in nature will we prosecute.”
Council member Wanda Sharrock inquired about “un-adopting” the IPMC, however, due to the nature of the law, some of the dilapidated properties in the city could remain standing.
“If we get rid of the legislation we would have to leave property that are considered a nuisance be until new legislation is in place,” Ratliff responded.
“The purpose of the letters is to contact us. We really want to help the homeowners out, by connecting them with volunteers to help out,” Ratliff said.
Discussion of who would be liable in the event that an injury would occur took place with Ratliff noting that the volunteers are liable for their own safety, or the homeowners’ insurance would have to cover the liability.
Council member Dan Wirebough explained that the landowner should know their rights on that matter.
“I think we should be willing to let the owner know the requirements, or have volunteers sign waivers,” Wirebough said.
Dave Markley, who expressed his concerns at the council meeting Tuesday, attended Thursday’s committee meetings and added his opinion on the situation.
“The more I listen it seems the big problems aren’t with the homeowners, but the owner non-occupants,” Markley said.
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Ten properties that are slated to be demolished will have to stand a little longer as the Finance Committee tabled approving appropriations slated for demolition until a little more research is done on demolition costs.
Ratliff explained that while the city is losing $4,000 to $5,000 on each demolition as well as losing out on revenue of the sale of the property to the owner, in the long run it helps the city out.
“We get the cost of the land back, so if it takes $10,000 to tear down a house we could get $4,000 to $5,000, and would increase surrounding property values which increases tax revenue,” Ratliff said. “Yeah, some of the money goes to the property owners, but we get more out of stabilization of the property and the neighborhoods.”
An option brought up by Pifer was to have city workers use city equipment to demolish the houses at a lower cost.
Mayor Jeff Reser noted that might not be as cheap as Pifer thinks.
“It may not be as inexpensive as you think,” Reser said, noting factors that could pop up in demolition including asbestos abatement. “We may try it on one house before going forward. We need to do more research.”
During the public comments portion of the joint session, Ray Thitoff brought up three properties that are in proximity to his home that have been vacant and are dilapidating. Thitoff noted properties at 947 E. Mansfield St., 1001 Reid St., and 1202 Reid St. as just a few examples of houses in his neighborhood that need tore down.
“These are just three that I brought tonight,” Thitoff said. “There are at least half-a-dozen in my area that need tore down.”
Bucyrus Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Terry Speigel presented the Public Land and Buildings Committee wastewater treatment plant roof quotes. Speigel presented three different quotes ranging from $18,025 to $36,500. Speigel suggested using a 20-year, flat, two-ply chip roof for the administration and lab roofs with Five Star Commercial Roofing of Hartfor City, Ind.for the cost of $18,025.
The Public Lands and Buildings approved Speigel’s recommendation, however, the Finance Committee tabled approval of the funds until a core sample of the structures are taken.
Public Lands and Buildings also approved the donation of the property at 133 Water Street.