HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-20-1983 /r1
•
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, JANUARY 20, 1983
1 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met
2 in regular session January 20, 1983 at the hour of 9 :00 a.m. in the Municipal
3 Building in said City. Mr. Meredith presided with Mr. Cordell and Mr. Webb
4 present. The following business was had, to-wit:
5
6 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 1983
7
8 Mr. Cordell moved to approve the minutes of January 13, 1983 as prepared,
9 seconded by Mr. Webb and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
10
11 JEFF CONNIFF - REQUEST RE: UTILITY LINE
12
13 Mr. Jeff Conniff, 2203 Straightline Pike, presented a diagram to the Board
14 to accompany his request for permission for a telephone line extension and
15 intercom on South "H" between his buildings at 733 and 801 South 9th Street.
16
17 Mr. Webb moved that the Board of Public Works and Safety grant an aerial
18 easement to Conniff Power Equipment Inc. on South "H" Street between 9th
19 and the alley east of 9th and said easement being subject to any and all
20 easements which the City Attorney may feel prudent to protect the public
21 interest in such action, seconded by Mr. Cordell and on unanimous voice
22 vote the motion was carried.
23
24 REV. SPICER - Concerns of North Richmond
25
26 Rev. Spicer, 1433 South 14th St. , presented a letter to the Board which the
27 Clerk read:
28
29 It is our concern as community citizens to help clean up north
30 Richmond. It is also a special concern to myself, as director
31 of Townsend Center, in that our program and services are greatly
32 affected by the appearance of the neighborhood.
33
34 We are more than willing to do our part to clean up our neighbor
35 hood, however we need the support of the city in order to do a
36 complete and effective job of cleaning.
37
38 Below is a list of concern in regard to the problem which exists
39 in north Richmond.
40
41 1. North 12th Street is a residential area with a R-3 Zoning
42 ordinance. However, there are businesses that are being operated,
43 which do not have proper zone clearance. Many of these businesses
44 not only are they without zone clearance, but they are also
45 illegal operations. These establishments encourage:
46
47 Loitering Breaking in of cars
48 Littering Speeding Traffic
49 Sale of Alcohol Community Rundown
50 Sale of Alcohol on Sundays
51
52 These establishments are not conducive to our youth coming up or
53 to the elderly that live in the neighborhood. It should be noted
54 that the Mt. Olive Baptist Church is in the process of building
55 a new church next door to one such establishment .
56
57 Many of the people that patronize these establishments are not
58 north Richmond residents. They live in other areas of town and
59 come to north Richmond in support of these establishments. This
60 concern has been voiced on many occasions by many other north
61 Richmond residents and at the present nothing has been done.
62
63 Vacant Lots - Loitering •
64 There are many vacant lots in north Richmond which are not kept
65 clean and have become a gathering area for people of all ages.
%yam
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd.
January 20, 1983
Page 2
1 These areas promote:
2
3 Loitering Fights
4 Littering Use of Drugs
5 Illicit Acts Vandalism
6
7 We would like to see the law move these people off this private
8 property.
9
10 Also many people gather and sit on the wall along the 0.I.C. Build-
11 ing and on the Townsend Center grounds after closing hours. We
12 would like these people to be asked to move on. Townsend Center
13 and 0.I.C. ought to be treated as any other business establishment
14 in town.
15
16 Local Police Department
17 We are concerned about the service the local police department
18 gives to north Richmond area. We feel that this area is not
19 patrolled as it should be. It is very seldom that we see police
20 cars in the area unless called. We feel that there is more to
21 north Richmond than North 10th, North J, and North E. The area
22 between North J and North F Streets needs to be patrolled and the
23 area between North 12th and North 17th street needs to be patrolled.
24
25 We also feel that response to calls are not what they should be.
26 Many times it seems that the police could have arrived sooner
27 than what the actual time was.
28
29 It is a concern that when police see loitering in north Richmond
30 nothing, is done, no one is asked to move. North 13th Street at
31 the 0.I.C. building is a prime example. Many times police have
32 been called about loitering and only come down and ride by. Al-
33 lowing people to hang out there has already cost the community the
34 lives of two individuals, one boy being stabbed to death the other
35 one now sitting in jail.
36
37 North Richmond crime results are not as they ought to be. We feel
38 that we should at least be able to get a follow up report on the
39 various crimes committed.
40
41 North Richmond lights are not replaced as quickly as we feel they
42 should be.
43
44 We are humbly submitting this report because we are trying to
45 help the community of Richmond be a better place to live.
46
47 /s/ Rev. Eugene Spicer
48 Representing Many Concerned Citizens
49 of North Richmond
50
51 Mr. Meredith stated that since there are a number of different areas over
52 which different departments have control, the Board will take under advise-
53 ment to investigate and review and to be responded to at a later meeting of
54 which you will be notified in advance.
55
56 Councilman Marion Williams, representative of the area, said that the group
57 has no intention of casting any reflection on this administration. Their
58 only interest is in trying to raise money for Townsend Center. For the
59 first time, people have come forward to raise money and the situation on
60 North 12th Street might hinder that.
61
62 Betty Wilson, 817 North "I" Street also spoke concerning North 12th Street.
63
64 Rev. Spicer noted they are still interested in the vacant land. In response
65 to a question, he said they have not contacted the police regarding the
66 crime watch program or the PAL Club, but would like information on them.
/)V;
Board of Works Minutes Cont`d.
January 20, 1983
Page 3
1 Mr. Meredith announced the Board would recess until 10:00 a.m.
2
3 UNSAFE BUILDING HEARINGS
4
5 Mr. Webb reconvened the meeting at 10:00 a.m. for the Unsafe Building Hearings,
6 and announced under the procedure City Attorney Ed Anderson will conduct the
7 hearings. Mr. Meredith was absent.
8
9 27 North West llth Street
III 10
11 Mr. Roberts stated that the property at 27 N. W. llth Street is owned by
12 Mary Klehfoth. He presented pictures taken in December and January showing
13 that the situation has been resolved and now wishes to disregard the order.
14
15 Mr. Cordell moved to dismiss the order on 27 N. W. llth, Richmond, Indiana,
16 seconded by Mr. Webb and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
17
18 734 Peacock Road
19
20 Mr. Anderson announced the hearing is against David Christopher, Zona J.
21 Christopher. and Zona J. Hymer. The hearing is held pursuant to Ordinance
22 #100-1979 adopting Unsafe Building Law as provided in IC 18-3-5.5-1. The
23 Building Commissioner has issued his Order pursuant to Sec. 4 of the ordinance.
24
25 The Clerk read the following order:
26
27 Order Issued to: David N. Christopher
28 Zona J. Christopher
29 Zona J. Hymer
30 734 Peacock Road
31 Richmond, IN 47374
32
33 RE: Lot 26, Wrightland
III 34 734 Peacock Road
35
36 The building or structure, or part thereof, located on the real estate
37 described above has, as a result of inspection and investigation by the
38 Building Commissioner of the City of Richmond, been found to be in an
39 impaired structural condition or state which renders it unsafe or dan-
40 gerous to persons and property. Said findings are according to the
41 specifications of an unsafe building as set forth in Section 2(b) (4) .
42
43 Therefore, it is hereby ordered that the following action be accomplished
44 in regard to this property:
45
46 Remove unsafe garage, According to Section 3, Paragraph 6,
47 City of Richmond Ordinance No. 100-1979.
48
49 The above stated action shall be accomplished no later than February 2,
50 1983.
51
52 A hearing regarding this order will be held in the Board of Works Room at
53 the Municipal Building, 50 North 5th Street, Richmond, Indiana, at 10:00
54 a.m. on January 20, 1983. You may appear at the above said hearing to
55 show cause why this order should not be complied with; you may be repre-
56 sented by an attorney, present evidence, call witnesses and make arguments
57 at the hearing. If you fail to appear, the hearing will be held in your
58 absence. If the order is affirmed, the Building Commissioner will cause
59 said action to be taken pursuant to this order. The costs thereof will be
60 assessed against you on the real estate tax duplicate. Further, failure
61 to comply with this order will subject you to litigation.
62
63 You have an obligation according to Section 12 of Ordinance No. 100-1979
64 to supply full information regarding this order to any person who may
65 take or agree to take a substantial property interest in the unsafe
66 premises, prior to such transfer or agreement to transfer; also to
/4/51
Board of Works Minutes Cont'd.
January 20, 1983
Page 4
1 supply to the Building Commissioner, within five (5) calendar days of
2 the transfer or agreement to transfer, (a) the full name, address and
3 telephone number of the person acquiring substantial property interest,
4 and (b) a true and accurate copy of the legal instrument under which the
5 transfer or agreement to transfer is accomplished.
6
7 Mr. Roberts presented a return receipt that the order had been served on Mr.
8 Christopher on January 6, 1983.
9
10 Mr. Anderson noted this hearing is pursuant to Sec. 9 of the ordinance.
11 He stated the hearing can still be held although none of the defendants
12 are present and there is no representation by counsel. There has been
13 no request for a continuance of the hearing; therefore, we shall continue
14 with the hearing.
15
16 Mr. Roberts showed pictures taken in December at the time of the complaint
17 showing debris in the alley, around the structure, a roof that has fallen
18 in and a two by four holding up the side of the building and pictures taken
19 in January.
20
21 Mr. Webb moved that the Board of Public Works & Safety has held a meeting
22 said meeting being conducted the 20th of January, 1983 at which time said
23 Board reviewed the unsafe building located at 734 Peacock Road in the City
24 of Richmond, Indiana and find8 that an unsafe building does exist at said
25 location and upon findings we have found I would move that the order be
26 affirmed, seconded by Mr. Cordell and on unanimous voice vote the motion
27 was carried.
28
29 ADJOURNMENT
30
31 There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
32
33 Donald E. Meredith
34 President
35
36 ATTEST: Nancy V. Beach
37 Acting Clerk of the Board