Building Standards Commission - Regular Meeting

Whether you're a current business owner, downtown dreamer, or somebody with a great idea, you deserve a seat at the table.

My job is to help with any zoning questions or building safety questions that may or may not require a permit.

I'm here to help you with any of your water service needs, such as turning on and off service, any billing questions you may have.

We're there to help you navigate all of those systems to help you get involved in your business or promote it. So we offer complimentary services for branding, for marketing, for social media, for their website design.

Our goal with this event is to make you feel like you have a full team of professionals right behind you wanting to make your dreams happen.

I'm here to help you with any zoning or building safety type questions. So I try to help keep your neighborhood safe and I try to make a difference daily.

I use my knowledge of the codes to keep people safe. I look forward to seeing you at the seat of the table.

With Seat at the Table, we bring all those people into one room, so you can make one stop and get the answers you need. So remember, pull up a chair, bring your questions, and lead with answers. Whether you're a current business owner, downtown dreamer, or somebody with a great idea, you deserve a seat at the table.

My job is to help with any zoning questions or building safety questions that may or may not require a permit.

I'm here to help you with any of your water service needs, such as turning on and off service, any billing questions you may have.

We're there to help you navigate all of the systems to help you get involved in your business or promote it. So we offer complimentary services for branding, for marketing, for social media, for their website design.

Our goal with this event is to make you feel like you have a full team of professionals right behind you wanting to make your dreams happen.

I'm here to help you with any zoning or building safety type questions.

So I try to help keep your neighborhood safe and I try to make a difference daily.

I use my knowledge of the codes to keep people safe. I look forward to seeing you at the seat of the table.

With Seat at the Table, we bring all those people into one room, so you can make one stop and get the answers you need. So remember, pull up a chair, bring your questions, and lead with answers.

I said, well, that's a lot of land.

He said, we're going to build a new jail here, but in the meantime, we're going to fix this up as an annex building. I'm going, why spend money on it then?

What land did they buy? They bought the grocery store. About behind them?

Yeah.

Did they really? Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you. Would you please pledge allegiance?

Sure. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Jim, would you do the invocation?

Yeah. Heavenly Father, bless our country. protect our first responders and service members. We seek blessings on the task before us today. Bless our deliberations with wisdom and our decisions with impartiality. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

We have questions and comments from the citizens who are not actually on the agenda.

Okay.

The meeting from April 2nd, you had the opportunity to look at that in your package. Do you have any motion?

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as they're presented.

I have a motion and a second.

I'll second it.

All those in favor? Aye. So be it. All right, we will consider the building and standards. We'll look at 1305 Boyd Street. Is there anyone here that is here to speak on that house, on that property?

Well, come up, sir, so that we can hear and you can hear us. Yes, sir.

My name is Jack Corner. And this house, I've been in one owner house. My dad had the house built back in the late 40s. It's in a living trust. Taxes are current. Larry and one of his men come out, I think it was back in June, and there was a smell coming from the house due to some cats from a previous renter, and I don't deny that. I started taking care of the problem back then, and then it got hot. And what needs to be done is some carpets taken out where cats have soiled on the carpets. It has not went through the pad. A lot of pads, liquids will go through, but this is an expensive pad. It's not the cheap multicolored pad. It's water. Nothing's waterproof. This is a water-resistant pad. And I started on one bedroom. and took carpet out, started cleaning it. Then it got hot on me. I've done a lot of coming and going in and out of the house. And the heat outside has been unbearable for me. I cannot handle the heat. I don't deny that there's a problem, but I can take care of the problem. I just need the heat to cooperate with me and to where I can take carpets out, clean the house. And I know what I'm doing on that. There was some items outside that they mentioned on the letter they sent me. Acres of stove. old water heater and an old couch, and those things can be hauled off. The grass, there's been a few times I've got a notice that I need to cut the grass, but this year I haven't had any problem. I'm normally gone three to four days a week out of town. But, and then there's a little bit, I built a shop back in 2019 and COVID hit. done part some of the electrical but didn't finish it there's still a little bit of electrical that needs to be done and like i'm finished that covid kind of shut me down on that i didn't want it was i started that shop in about september 2019 whenever covert hit i just didn't want to spend the money to finish the electrical there's a little bit of work on the metal building still needs to be done I just need some time to take care of this problem. I don't deny there is a problem. I can take care of it, but I need the weather to cooperate with me. It's been way too hot. I just can't handle the heat. I've done some of the work in one of the bedrooms and then it got hot on me and I stopped. There's a lot of coming and going in and out of the house and I just can't handle the heat. I'm 70 years old, not making excuses, but if the weather will just cooperate, I can get this thing done. I need about, probably about 75 days to get this thing taken care of. And I will take care of it.

Are there any comments from the board?

What's the city say? Yeah.

So on the city side, Mr. Corner is pretty correct. I believe it was sometime in June when we met him out on the property. He has kind of stated some of my case here. So one of our biggest concerns is the neighbors. They're the one that's having to put up with odors from their property to a point where they can enjoy their life. So when we met him out on the property, he acted like there was two or three cats in there and we walked around to the front and while we were looking in the window of the house, I counted nine cats. And so he's in violation of our animal control ordinance as far as having more than four pets. The odor is a safety concern. And then he mentioned the electric. Right now, he's powering his accessory structure from an extension cord coming from the house. And to my knowledge, no one has lived in the front house in quite some time, which is also another city violation of him living in the accessory structure while no one is occupying the main residential structure on the property. Keep in mind, I'm telling you all this, but our main concern is the odors coming from the property and the electrical. He mentioned that what we call trash and debris, the different items that he mentioned, we do expect him to get that stuff removed as well. that I believe in your packet, we sent you an email we received from one of the adjacent property owners. And that kind of tells the story that they're living with.

So Jack, you said that the cats were from a previous renter? Yes. So were you taking care of the cats now?

Yes, I take care of the cats. And I'm aware I need to get rid of some of the cats. And I'll do that.

And how many cats are in there?

So I counted nine in that window.

Well, that's a violation. That needs to be fixed first. And the odor, I mean, if there's carpet in there and there's cats in there, you're going to get an odor. And that needs to be taken care of. That has to be taken care of now.

Yeah, and I've already started on that. I've already started on that back whenever they come out. I think it's June whenever they come out. And I started then, and I've got one room about 90% done. And I know what I'm doing. I know how to treat the problem. It's not a hit and miss deal. I've got chemicals, special chemicals. I've taken care of this problem before with my business. I was an environmental contractor, and I can take care of this odor. And, you know, the caps have went on the carpet. You know, I'm not going to deny what happened. And one room, the carpet's been taken out of. Probably 90% of it's been cleaned with a chemical. But the heat, the summer heat hit me, and it's hard to go in and out and work in this heat. And I'm not making excuses, but working in this heat, I can't handle it.

Well, it was in June. Correct me if I'm wrong, Larry, but it wasn't in June that You went out and talked to him about this? Is that what was said?

We started our case. I don't know the specific day that we met him, but we did start our case on June the 15th. Okay. On the property.

Well, how long has it been empty? Probably thinking probably about

2016 or 17, somewhere around there.

So the cats have been there since then?

Part of them, yes. And I take care of the cats.

I've fed the cats. The cats are causing the odor, apparently. Yes. And we're talking, they came to you in June, but you had a runner moved out in 16?

Yes.

So that's what, nine years that it's been empty with cats in it?

Yes.

And you didn't do anything about it until now?

Really didn't have a lot of problem up until probably the last six to nine months. I've always had litter boxes in there for them.

So you didn't do anything to take care of the odor or fix the house up for nine years?

Well, it really wasn't a problem for nine years. The problem just started. probably within the last nine months.

Well, the cats have been there that long. You may not have had the people complaining, but if you've got cats in there for nine years, that odor's been there for a lot longer than nine months.

The cats are pretty good about going to the litter box. I don't think the odor was bad up until the last nine months of the year. And I keep, that's whenever I started venting it with a couple of windows open.

Okay. So you've had nine months that you knew that there was a problem there, and you haven't done it. I mean, you didn't start until June? Nine months ago was what, January? So, you know, you knew then that there was a problem. You didn't do anything until June when the city came and talked to you about it?

I'd done some stuff prior to then, but I really started working on it whenever they'd come and talk to me. I really didn't notice that much of an odor. I really didn't. The thing about it, there's... There's been a cat problem in this neighborhood for years. The house next door was vacant for probably 20, 25 years. Cats lived in that garage. There's cats that go up and down the alley every night. There's been cats that stayed out on my porch. I did not feed these cats, but this neighborhood has had a problem for years.

Have you talked to the city about this?

because they have animals we have an animal control organization that can help believe me i know i've have had that situation at my house with many many cats the city have the city has made an attempt they set traps across the street uh throughout the years but there's still cats that go up down the alley ever ever not And there's cats that live down the street, you know, all the way up down the alley. And this is on Boyd Street. Even on Hazelwood, the 1300 block of Hazelwood, I see numerous cats every day.

Well, the cats in the alley are really not our concern. The cats in that house are our concern.

I understand. Craig, that's kind of what I wanted to say. Right now, them cats are locked up in that house. There is at least one window that is cracked in there. But other than that, I mean, they're shut up in that house. Do you have air conditioning, Jack?

Fans. I've got fans in there.

No central air?

No. I've got central air, but it's out. It's out.

Well, I didn't. I will say this. I went over there, and I got out of my car, and I could smell it. And I worked at Filtex. I mean, you know, my smeller's gone. But I can understand your neighbors complaining about the odor. And you have known of this since January? Yes. So you can't blame the weather because from January until June, it wasn't bad.

I wasn't here a lot of that, but I know it wasn't hot. Any other discussion on the board? Commission?

Jack, do you plan on doing anything with this house?

Clean it up and take care of the problem.

But you're not planning on living in it or anything like that?

Right now, I've rented it up until a certain point in time. At one time, I lived out at French, and I've had some renters in it. But I do, I will get this problem fixed.

Are you, so in part of the cleanup and the various things, are you still going to continue to keep cats and take care of them? Or are you still going to?

I'm going to get rid of part of the cats. I'm going to get rid of them. I'll get them back down to at least whatever the allowable limit is. I think they said, Larry said like four. A couple of these cats I've had since 2012. They were my cats.

They're your cats?

Two of them were my cats.

Okay. But you don't live there, right?

No.

And so that means you have to go over there every once a week or something?

I'm gone three to four days a week. And I go over there and feed the cats, give them water. And whenever I'm in town, I normally don't get over after 11 o'clock. And stay over late sometimes, late in the evening. But normally Friday, some Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Mondays, I'm out of town.

Well, so you believe that –

Once the weather gets to what temperature is going to be convenient for you?

In the mornings, after Larry and him came out there the first time, the mornings were pretty cool. But whenever it gets up to high 80s and 90s, I just can't handle the heat. I can handle the cold, but I had a heat stroke when I was 12 years old, and I cannot handle the heat. I just need the temperature to be down, and I worked on it. And I believe it was June. I worked on it. The temperature was good in the morning. So whenever it started getting hot, that's about as far as I could handle it because I'm going in and out. You know, I'm thinking the next, you know, I look at the weather every day and it looks like the next 10 days is going to be in the high 90s, 100 degrees. uh in the mornings it's uh you know in the mid 70s and that's pretty rough but when if it just cooled down i can i can get in there and work i've already done uh it's two bedroom house a hall a living room in the kitchen And I've got one bedroom, I've got all the carpet out, and you can tell a world of difference from the other. And I don't deny they're wanting it over. It's ammonia, basically what it is. That's what cat urine is, ammonia. And I've got it probably about 90, 95% done. Just a little bit, probably about a four by four piece of carpet. And I've moved all the furniture around and taken out all the carpet, all the pad. I've cleaned all the walls. I've cleaned all the ceilings. You know, I've cleaned the floors and everything. But I just need the weather to cooperate with me. I need a little bit of time. I don't know how long it's going to stay warm. But I'm just asking for some time. If I was going to walk away from the deal, I'd just tell you, hey, I'll walk away from it and tear it down. But it's too nice a house to tear down. And the taxes are current. I paid the taxes. Once I get it cleaned up, I'll probably start renting it again. I have built a shop in 2019. I built a shop. I need to finish the electric on it.

You know, I understand the carpet, but if you've got furniture in there and the cats are all over the furniture, Same problem. Once they've gone on anything that'll soak that, it's done.

Furniture will be taken out.

Okay. Any... You know, I understand that it's been hot. Sure. But this summer, I did the same thing. I had a rental that got left junked up. And I went through. It took me a while to do it, but I'd work from morning until it got hot. Inside and outside. So, you know... The weather is, you know how it is, Jim. I mean, Jim has to work out in the weather all the time. But, you know, in the mornings, until 10 o'clock, you've got pretty decent weather.

And I did work on it. I'd get up about 6 o'clock, work about 10, 30, 11, and it'd start getting hot. And I've done that back in June. And I didn't bring a temperature or anything about the temperature, but starting in July... Whether it was unbearable, still unbearable to me.

You said you're thinking 75 days? I think so. Does that include the electrical?

Yeah, I've talked to an electrician. Okay.

What can you have done in 30 days? We meet every 30 days.

And I'm willing to do that. Once the weather gets to the point that I can work, I'm willing to meet with you and give you an update.

We need to see you at our next meeting. But we need you to give us what you feel like you can get done in that time frame. We need to see some action.

The reason I'm asking for 75 days, I'm thinking roughly, basically three rooms that I like, three out of four. And I'm thinking if I have 20 to 25 days of room, that should be enough. If I need any more time, I'll let you know. But I'm willing to come down here every 30 days. And that's once the weather can allow me to work. I cannot handle hate.

You think you can get rid of the cats in 30 days? Yes.

And that was kind of my concern because he stated that he's not here a full week at a time.

Right, I get that.

And so them cats are in there by themselves for so many days a week. and and that is the primary concern of the neighbors right now although they should be concerned about the electrical hazard because i do believe when mr coiner is here that he stays in the accessory structure and it's being powered from an extension cord from the house with probably an outdated electrical system to begin with um so those are our concerns um I'm sure we have a recommended motion and that's about the most that we would want from today but because Mr. Corner we're not trying I'm not trying to tear your house down I but I have to work for the public and right now the public is hollering and and so I my suggestion is that you get rid of the cats period if you can't be here to take care of them so but other than that it's up to the board we did give y'all a recommended uh motion uh maybe um instead of the 30 days by next meeting you might add that into that motion instead of the 30 days

Okay. Do we have anything else we need to talk to?

We need to close the conversation.

Yeah. Well, I'll close this. Do I have a motion on the floor?

I'd make a motion that we review it at the next meeting, and hopefully we have some good news in 30 days or as long as it is for the next meeting. Do we have a motion? Do we have a second?

The only thing that can hold me up is the temperature and not make an excuse on that.

I understand the temperature, Jack, but that doesn't have anything to do with getting rid of the cats. I understand. That's a phone call.

Okay. We have a motion on the floor. Do we have a second?

I'll second that.

We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. So be it.

next meeting be.

It's the first Thursday of October 1st.

I'll let you know.

The next property we're going to discuss is 1306 Yeo Street. Is there anyone here to speak for Yeo's?

No, sir, there's not.

Well, I know the taxes haven't been paid since 21, so they're four years behind.

Yes, sir.

Does the city have someone to talk?

Yes, sir. I'm right here. Okay. Speak up. I got my mic right here.

Speak up, Fred.

Speak up, skinny.

So this property, we haven't had any contact with the owner. This is one that we have to go in and mow every year, several times a year. It's been the victim of vandalism and theft. I don't know if you can see in any of the pictures. My first picture is there was a front door when we first started posting notices, and the door frame, everything has been removed. A carport out of the backyard has been stolen. There's trash and debris all over the property, and what I'm asking for today is in order to abate that trash and debris, make it a little easier for us to get in there and mow, and then also secure the property, keep the vandalism down.

So

You went to city to pay for the cleanup, securing the building, and they haven't paid your taxes, right? Yes, sir. Since 21. And you haven't had any conversation or nobody has basically said they even own the house, even though?

No, sir. Yeah, it's an LLC out of, I forgot the town.

Yeah, someplace weird. I was trying to think. I saw that.

gp realty services do you have it inside it don't no sir i haven't you see oh because even though the door's off of it yeah yeah i can kind of look in there and see a little bit it's it's pretty good yeah okay i mean is it salvageable It'd be hard to say without going in. It's very rough, though.

It didn't look sad.

That's something we need to get an administrative warrant to go and look.

I didn't think it was sad when I went by it.

So you're not looking for a demo order?

Is that right?

That was a question. Say it again.

Sorry, I was talking.

It's okay. You're not looking for a demo order.

No, sir. I'm just trying to secure it and get the trash and debris cleaned up. Okay. For right now?

Yes, sir.

All right. Any other discussion from the board?

We'll close this meeting. Do I have any motions on from the board?

I guess I'll make a motion to secure the property and to clean. Is that what you said you'd like to have done, is clean it up or abate it?

Yes, sir, abate the trash and debris.

Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. And all those opposed, so be it. Next property we're going to look at is on Hazelwood. Is there anyone here for Hazelwood?

No, sir, there isn't.

Except for you, right? That's right.

Same thing with this property. Lots of trash and debris on it, and we have to go out there and mow it several times a year. I found two names from Border that matched the homeowner's name. One of them passed away in 88, and the other one passed away in 2012. And here again, this one's people are dumping trash in the yard and the back door is kicked open. So we'd like to secure it and also clean up the trash and debris.

If they passed away in what years did you say?

I found one in 88 and one in 2012. Who's been paying the taxes since 22?

I mean through 22.

Not entirely sure.

That may be some information we can get from the appraisal district. Sometimes if they pay by check or something, then they have record of that.

Yeah, a lot of the time, if they pay and they leave a name or something, it'll leave an in care of and a name on there, but I didn't see that.

From the front.

So this is Elmer Gosnell.

Yeah, that's the one I found. I found two different names of Elmer Gosnell, and both of them have been passed away.

This is my brother Elmer, and this is my other brother Elmer. Is that the way that works?

I think it might have been a junior and senior. Yeah, that's possible.

Like I say, if they're passed away then, I'd like to know who's been paying the taxes.

Because the taxes are current through 22. I wonder where they've been sending the tax information.

Yeah. Have you checked to see where they might be sending the tax information?

No, I have not.

That might not be a bad place to try to find out who's responsible.

It shows Elmer Gosnell and that same address.

But what I'm saying is they're sending a tax statement out to somebody. Right. Well, who's that? That might be a place for you to find out a contact for the property.

The only way we can find out is whoever's paying. is paying through a check situation where there's actually some data to go with it. Otherwise, whoever's paying it was paying the taxes. Let's put it that way.

They might just be paying it online with a credit card or... Well, yeah, but they're... Just because they know.

Somebody's paying the taxes. That's what I'm saying. We need to find out who's paying the taxes.

Well, at this point... It's a moot point. Yeah. So the question is, you want to do the same as you did on the Yo's property? You want to secure and abate the trash, right? Yes, sir. That's your recommendation.

Okay. Any discussion on the members of the commission?

I'll close it.

all uh do i have any motions on the floor evidently nobody wants to make the motion i move to find that nuisance unsafe conditions exist at fort 13 hazelwood order the property owner and or responsible parties to abate the identified violations within 30 days by removing all accumulated trash and debris and properly securing the rear door, broken windows, any other unsecured openings prevent unauthorized access. If the required work is not completed within the specified time frame, I furthermore move to authorize the city to abate the trash and debris and secure the structure. Did you get all that? Where in the world did you find that?

I'd second that.

Could you repeat that for us, please?

Could you repeat one second? Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor of the motion? Aye. All those opposed? So be it. We have completed our agenda today. Do I have a motion to close?

I'll make a motion to adjourn.

I'll second.

All right. We have a motion. All those in favor? Aye. So be it.