By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Paint-chipped homes took center stage at Tuesday night’s Bucyrus City Council meeting as homeowners took Law Director Rob Ratliff to task over letters sent out for property maintenance code violations.
Dave Markley and Dale Fruth both contested letters sent to them that accused them of property maintenance code violations. Though the specific violation was not detailed in the letters – homeowners needed to contact the Law Director’s office for more information – what Markley and Fruth both took exception to were the consequences for violating the International Property Maintenance Code that the city adopted, namely jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.
The letters, which were sent from the Law Director’s office, were a part of the city’s Beautify Bucyrus project. This spring, Ratliff and Bucyrus Code Enforcement Officer John Rostash reviewed properties that were structurally sound, but needed exterior maintenance, and sent out letters for violations to the city’s Property Maintenance Code. The purpose of the program, Ratliff explained in a press release sent out in March, was to help the elderly or other homeowners that could not afford the cost of painting their homes by partnering with various groups, such as the Guardian Angels and Clady’s Wallpaper and Paint, to get the job done.
Markley, however, felt that something should be done about the Property Maintenance Code, especially since he believed the city could not enforce half of it.
“It’s a thing you’d like to achieve,” Markley acknowledged, but he said it was much like a manufacturing company attempting to get zero errors: a nice idea, but next to impossible.
“The city could spend a lifetime trying to enforce its codes. I don’t see how you can do that,” Markley argued. “I think this code needs to be watered down somewhat.”
Markley, whose home needed a fresh coat of paint, believed the city should focus more on the properties that have been burned-out or have knee-high grass rather than ones that are slowly, but surely, improving.
When Ratliff pointed out that volunteers were being assembled to help homeowners paint their houses, Markley said he did not want the city’s help to paint his house, nor did he want them to tell him to paint it.
“You guys missed the mark, so far off,” Fruth, who claimed that the letter sounded like it came from the Bexley community rather than Bucyrus, added. “We’re trying to take pride, but it takes time.”
Ratliff said letters had been sent out to roughly 300 property owners concerning violations and his office had seen some success with the program. Already, 10 houses were identified as abandoned while numerous other homeowners contacted the Law Director’s office seeking help in improving their home’s exterior. Though an end date of July 1 was stated in the letters to have the violations fixed, Ratliff said that was more of a motivation to get the homeowners to contact his office in order to create a dialogue between both parties on when or if things were being done.
Ratliff apologized to Markley if he was offended by the letter, but he added that, as Law Director, he had an obligation to inform Markley of the penalties for violating the Property Maintenance Code.
“We have to have some standards in the community,” Ratliff added. “My job is to prosecute the Property Maintenance Code you (City Council) put on the books.”
Councilwoman Wanda Sharrock argued that the letters put a hardship on people who weren’t employed or lived on a limited income. Markley and Fruth also received support from Councilman Steve Pifer, who has repeatedly argued against the International Property Maintenance Code. Though Pifer understood what the city was attempting to do, he believed the plan was executed poorly.
The Property Maintenance Code was placed back into committee for review.
RELATED CONTENT: City rolls out ‘Beautify Bucyrus 2016 Campaign’
Gary Frankhouse, Executive Director of the Crawford County Education and Economic Development Partnership, attended the meeting to give a quarterly update on the Partnership. He highlighted the work that was being done behind the scenes for the former AP gas station on East Mansfield Street, the food and beverage certification obtained for Outlot 619 at the Crossroads Industrial Center, preparation to obtain a State of Ohio certified site for all industries, and improvements to Ohio Polytech.
Frankhouse also discussed the upcoming Crawford Conversation in September that will address health and employment, the transportation survey currently going around the county, and the childcare licensing meetings to be held at the Bucyrus and Galion libraries at the end of this month.
RELATED CONTENT: AEP and CCEEDP celebrate shovel-ready certification at Crossroads Industrial Center
Council also approved four pieces of legislation: duties for the Enterprise Zone and Community Reinvestment Area programs, a $58,000 appropriation for the Schines Art Park wall, and the Tax Incentive Review Council recommendations.
There will be a carnival at Harmon Park this weekend. The Aumiller Pool is also expected to open Thursday after an inspection by the health department.