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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-22-1987 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA,OCTOBER 22, 1987 1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session October 22, 1987 2 at the hour of 9:00 A.M. in the Municipal Building in said City. Ms. Silberstein presided with Mr. Brown in 3 attendance. Absent:Mr.Willis. The following business was had to-wit: 4 5 UNSAFE BUILDING HEARINGS 6 7 Ms. Silberstein requested the hearings be held until later in the agenda in order that Mr. Bronston could be in 8 attendance. 9 10 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15.1987 11 12 Mr.Willis moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded by Mr. Brown and on 13 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 14 15 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT 16 17 Mr. Brown moved to approve claims for payment in the amount of 677,102.30, seconded by Mr. Willis and on 18 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 19 20 PUBLIC REQUESTS AND COMMENTS 21 22 No public requests were presented. 23 24 DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND COMMENTS 25 26 There were no Department requests presented. 27 28 BOARD OF WORKS MISCELLANEOUS 29 30 Date Set for Status Report on Unsafe Premises Located at 326 North 10th Street 31 32 Ms. Silberstein stated that due to changing circumstances on this unsafe premises it was necessary to 33 schedule a formal status report for enforcement of an order issued on the premises. She requested all 34 interested parties be formally notified of the date. 35 36 Mr. Brown moved to set December 3, 1987 at 9:00 A.M.for a formal status report on the unsafe premises located 37 at 326 North 10th Street,seconded by Mr.Willis and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 38 39 Traffic Signalization at Salisbury and National Road West 40 41 Ms. Silberstein announced that notice had been received that based on findings of collected information 42 compared to standards, a traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of US 40 and Salisbury Road. It was 43 also noted that the Indiana Department of Highways would check into the feasibility of future channelization al 44 this location for lining up of the Salisbury Road approaches and providing left-turn lanes on US 40. This 45 channilization improvement would be contingent on availability of right-of-way,funding and priorities. 46 47 Mr. Brown asked about specifics of the plans and Captain Williams indicated he understood they would widen the 48 area and dependent on funding line up Salisbury Road and put in a left turn signal. 49 50 Mr.Willis said the City would assist in any combined efforts with the County in securing right-of-way. 51 52 Ms.Gertrude Ward commented that the left turn signal would be most helpful. 53 54 Ms. Silberstein noted the signal at Salisbury would also assist with the traffic problem at the Toschlog Road 55 intersection. - 56 57 UNSAFE BUILDING HEARINGS 58 59 447 South 7th Street 60 61 Ms. Silberstein opened an Unsafe Building Hearing pursuant to an order issued to Ronald Helton and Christine 62 Helton for unsafe premises located at 447 South 7th Street, Richmond, Indiana. The order required the unsafe 63 building wrecked and removed or repaired to meet the minimum standards of City of Richmond Housing & 64 Building Codes within 60 days of receipt of the Order. 65 1)-1 Board of Works Minutes Cont'd October 22, 1987 Page 2 1 Ms. Silberstein requested Proof of Notification of Hearing. Upon examination of the return receipt and legal 2 advertisement, Mr. Brown moved to accept and file the Proof of Notification, seconded by Mr. Willis and on 3 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 4 5 The Clerk administered the oath to give testimony to Mr. Dennis Bronston. 6 7 Mr. Bronston informed the Board that the Order to cause removal or repair was issued on October 7, 1987. Mr. 8 Bronston reported on the structural condition of the premises and stated it had been vacant for a number of 9 years and was a source of many complaints. He said an unsafe stairs on the outside of the building had been 10 removed earlier this year and it is basically secured. Mr. Bronston said he felt it would be costly to make repairs 11 since the hearing and plumbing systems need updating. Mr. Bronston said there were also signs of water 12 damage and much internal work needed. 13 14 He said it was his opinion that it could be rehabilitated, but it it would be extremely costly and would take an 15 owner with sufficient funds to do the work. 16 17 Mr. Silberstein inquired if there were special steps to be taken since it was a four unit and Mr. Bronston said only 18 if it would be converted to more units. 19 20 Mr. Bronston shared photographs with the Board. 21 22 The Clerk administered the oath to give testimony to Ms. Gertrude Ward, PO Box 14, Centerville, Indiana. Ms. 23 Ward stated she was representing the owner of the property and that Historic Richmond and Neighborhood 24 Preservation Services were interested in saving the building. She said they have worked out an agreement to 25 assist in repairs. Ms. Ward said the structure is a highly visible part of the historic district and will have an 26 impact on the neighborhood if it is lost. She commented there is some neglect of the property, but she has seen 27 worse. 28 29 Ms. Ward commented there is a possibility the structure could go back to an original duplex,townhouse effect. 30 She said immediate plans would include covering the windows to make it secure and to fix the hold in the back. 111 31 She said with a crew of workers,they would be able to put it into saleable condition with the basic structure being 32 repaired. 33 34 Mr. Brown said he would like to definitely see the top floor windows boarded up. 35 36 Ms.Ward said they planned to start at the top of the structure to repair windows, since this would also help with 37 interior lighting for repairs. 38 39 Ms. Ward said they are prepared to pay for 6,000.00 work of basic materials and labor and also would assist in 40 getting a loan from the City for historic repairs. 41 42 Ms. Silberstein requested to hear from Mr. Helton,owner of record. 43 44 The Clerk administered the oath to give testimony to Mr. Ronald Helton. Mr. Helton said he also wanted to get 45 the property fixed up and that he had put a new roof on and had painted the structure. 46 47 Mr. Willis said the Board needed a firm commitment from the owner and a time schedule for repairs submitted. 48 Mr.Willis indicated that Mr. Helton has been prone to procrastination with the property. 49 50 Ms. Silberstein stated she would like to see definite plans and schedules for the building and dollar estimates 51 and a plan of attack for completion of the various stages of the project. She indicated she personally would be 52 willing to go along with this if the written plans, estimates and dates were submitted. 53 54 Mr. Willis requested the property be completely secured within thirty days. 55 56 Mr. Willis moved to continue the Unsafe Building Hearing on property located at 447 South 7th Street to 57 December 3, 1987 at 9:00 A.M.with the property to be secured within thirty days and a report to be presented at 58 the continued hearing,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 59 60 901 North I Street 61 62 Ms. Silberstein opened an Unsafe Building Hearing on property located at 901 North I Street pursuant to an 63 Order issued on October 7, 1987 to Oran Wilson stating the unsafe building be wrecked and removed or repaired 64 to meet minimum standards of City of Richmond Housing Code and Building Code. 65 Board of Works Minutes Cont'd October 22, 1987 Page 3 1 Ms.Silberstein requested Proof of Notification. Having examined the return receipt and legal advertisement, Mr. 2 Brown moved to accept and file the Proof of Notification, seconded by Mr. Willis and on unanimous voice vote 3 the motion was carried. 4 5 Mr. Bronston, still being under oath, presented photographs to the Board and stated the premises is secured. 6 He said he has not yet been able to do an interior inspection and would like to complete this prior to the . 7 recommendation of the Board. 8 9 Mr. Bronston expressed his concern over the exterior maintenance and the combustible contents of a garage 10 located on the property. He said without the consent of the owner,they can go to Court to get an order to enter 11 the premises. Mr. Bronston said he was hopeful the owner would appear at the hearing so arrangements for an 12 inspection could be made,but Mr. Barden will assist with a Court order. 13 Ms.Silberstein asked what could be done to clear the premises of the debris and Mr. Bronston stated it had not 14 been occupied since 1982 and the Board could modify the order to reference the removal of the debris. 15 16 Mr. Brown asked how soon the inspection could be made and Mr. Bronston felt the first part of next week would 17 be the soonest. 18 19 Ms.Silberstein expressed concern about the garage and the refrigerator located on the property and asked how 20 this could legally be cleaned up. ' 21 22 Mr. Bronston said if the Board feel the refrigerator and garage are a hazard they can take emergency action and 23 get it removed today. 24 25 There was no owner of record or other interested parties present at the hearing. 26 27 Mr. Willis moved to authorize the removal of the refrigerator and combustible materials and debris from the 28 property located at 901 North I Street and to see the property is secured,this to be completed within twenty-four 29 hours as an emergency action and costs to be assessed against the owner, seconded by Mr. Brown and on 30 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 31 32 Mr. Willis moved to continue the unsafe building hearing on property located at 901 North I Street to November 33 25, 1987 at 9:00 AM,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 34 35 It was noted the Board needed to establish the 25th of November as official meeting date due to the 36 Thanksgiving Holiday on the 26th. 37 38 Mr.Willis moved to set November 25, 1987 as the date for the regular meeting of the Board of Public Works and 39 Safety,seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 40 41 321 North 13th Street 42 43 Ms. Silberstein opened an unsafe building hearing on property located at 321 North 13th Street, pursuant to an 44 order issued to Carte, Inc.with the order stating the unsafe building be wrecked and removed or repaired to meet 45 the minimum standards of the City of Richmond Housing and Building Code. 46 47 Ms. Silberstein requested Proof of Notification and after having examined the Proof of Publication of legal 48 advertisement, Mr. Brown moved to accept and file the Proof of Publication, seconded by Mr. Willis and on 49 unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 50 51 Mr. Bronston, still being under oath, informed the Board that the owner of the property had been approached in 52 1985 to participate in the rental rehab program and had been an approved applicant. Mr. Bronston said the 53 project was never completed and there was an estimated cost of 24,000.for repairs. Mr. Bronston said there is 54 also an unprotected excavation at the rear of the property that is six to eight feet deep. He said the property is 55 now secured. 56 57 Mr. Bronston said that Mr. Russell Commons was the authorized agent of Carte, Inc.that the City had dealt with 58 on the rental rehab program. He indicated he had spoken with Mr. Commons several months ago and Mr. 59 Commons indicated he would be working on the property, but nothing is being done. 60 61 Mr. Bronston shared the structural condition report and photographs with the Board. 62 63 Councilmember Jane Brookbank was administered the oath to give testimony. Ms. Brookbank told the Board 64 this is an example of many houses in that area and all are connected with Mr.Commons and she felt it needed to 65 be addressed. 1)c, Board of Works Minutes Cont'd October 22, 1987 Page 4 1 Mr. Bronston informed the Board he was inside the premises with the loan application and they do have the 2 application noting the deficiencies of the building. No Building Permit has been issued since 1983. 3 4 Mr. Bronston recommended the Board continue the hearing,since Mr. Commons does respond to calls or letters 5 with some type of explanation. 6 7 Mr.Willis stated he felt the property should be condemned. 8 9 Mr. Brown added that since it has been vacant since 1983 he feels the order should be affirmed. 10 11 Ms. Silberstein said the Board needed to continue to deal with the corporation and not a particular person of the 12 corporation. 13 14 Mr. Willis moved to affirm the Order issued on the Unsafe Premises located at 321 North 13th Street to wreck 15 and remove or repair to meet the minimum standards of the City of Richmond Housing and Building Code, 16 seconded by Mr. Brown and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. 17 18 Mr. Willis asked about the status of the unsafe property on Sheridan Street that was ordered wrecked and 19 removed and Mr. Bronston stated Cox Excavating had been awarded the quote and the order to demolish has 20 been issued 21 22 ADJOURNMENT 23 24 There being no further business,on a motion duly made, seconded and passed the meeting was adjourned. 25 26 27 28 29 30 • 31 Susan Silberstein, President 32 33 34 35 ATTEST 36 Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65