[00:00:05] IT IS. [INAUDIBLE]. 3:35 AND I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. [Call to Order] WE DO APPEAR TO HAVE A QUORUM HERE WITH US TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025. FIRST ITEM IS DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE OCTOBER 21ST, 2024 MEETINGS. [ITEM 1: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding October 21, 2024, Minutes.] YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF THOSE MINUTES IN YOUR PACKET. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT I'VE GOT AN EXTRA SET OF THEM. DO YOU NEED ANOTHER SET? [INAUDIBLE] . I WE CAN SHARE. I READ IT. RECORDING IN PROGRESS. [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY. YOU SAID OCTOBER. YES, [INAUDIBLE] AUGUST 19TH OF 2024. HOLD ON. I MAY NOT CHANGE THE DATE. AND THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE PACKET. OKAY. THAT THAT DATE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN CHANGED. IT WAS THE OCTOBER MEETING, BUT WE CAN PASS ON THAT FOR RIGHT NOW SINCE WE'VE GOT AN INCORRECT DATE ON THERE AND I'LL BRING THOSE BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING. DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THAT AT THIS TIME. I WILL CORRECT THAT DATE ON THAT. GOOD CATCH. [ITEM 2: The Commission to hold a public hearing, consider and take action to determine the condition of structures as prescribed by City of Decatur Code of Ordinances, Article IV Unsafe, Dangerous or Hazardous Buildings and Structures, Section 10-105 Proceedings of the Building Standards Commission, (b) Criteria for Determining Substandard Condition, of property owned by Keith Dawson at 605 North Arthur Street City of Decatur, Wise County, Texas also described as Lot 2 Block 12 of the Hale Addition. If the structure is determined substandard the Commission shall take action according to the City of Decatur Code of Ordinances, Article IV Unsafe, Dangerous, or Hazardous Buildings and Structures, Section 10-105 Proceedings of the Building Standards Commission, (d) Action by the commission: Time Frames. (BSC 25-0001)] MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO. PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DETERMINATION OF A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 605 NORTH ARTHUR STREET IN DECATUR, TEXAS. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, ARTICLE 4 UNSAFE, DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, SECTION TEN 105 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. B CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SUBSTANDARD CONDITION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY KEITH DAWSON, RONALD MCDADE, DONALD MCDADE, AND TAMMY HARRIS AT 605 NORTH ARTHUR STREET, CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, BEING 0.23 ACRES OF LAND. ALSO DESCRIBED AS LOT TWO, BLOCK 12 OF THE HALE ADDITION. IF STRUCTURE IS DETERMINED SUBSTANDARD, THE COMMISSION SHALL TAKE ACTION ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF DECATUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, ARTICLE FOUR. UNSAFE, DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. SECTION 10-105 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. D ACTION BY COMMISSION TIME FRAMES. AND SO IF YOU OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, WHEN YOU'RE READY, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 3:38 FOR ANY COMMENTS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. LET ME DO MY PART AND THEN, YES, SIR. MR. DAWSON. SO MR. DAWSON IS HERE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON THIS. SO THIS IS THE STRUCTURE AT 605 NORTH ARTHUR STREET. WE ARE ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DECATUR FOR SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES. YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR PACKET, AND I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE THOSE AND ENTER THOSE IN THE RECORD BY REFERENCE. THE EXHIBITS THAT YOU SEE HERE, WHICH IS THE INITIAL LETTER SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER ON MAY 2ND, 2024 WISE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR TAX CERTIFICATE. IT WAS OBTAINED ON MAY 1ST, 2024. THE EXHIBIT THREE IS THE OWNERSHIP AND ENCUMBRANCE REPORT PROVIDED BY WISE COUNTY TITLE FROM JANUARY 13TH, 2025. IT DOES INDICATE INDICATE TWO TAX SUITS THAT ARE ON THE PROPERTY. NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION IS EXHIBIT NUMBER FOUR. THIS IS WAS THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION BY THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION. [00:05:01] IT WAS SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED TO KEITH DAWSON, TAMMY HARRIS, DONALD MCDADE, AND RONALD MCDADE ON JANUARY 23RD, 2025. IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON THE PROPERTY ON THAT DATE. EXHIBIT FIVE IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PUBLISHED IN THE WISE COUNTY MESSENGER ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025, AND AGAIN POSTED ON THE PROPERTY. EXHIBIT 6 INCLUDES A DETAILED TIMELINE FROM THE CASE NOTES OF THIS CASE, AND EXHIBIT 7 IS ADDITIONAL PHOTOS FROM THE PROPERTY. DO HAVE A FEW PICTURES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT DO SHOW THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY, THE DETERIORATED STRUCTURES AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURES, AND THE USE OF STORAGE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS ON THE PROPERTY. IT IS OUR DETERMINATION THAT THE PROPERTY IS UNSAFE, UNSANITARY AND A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH. THE MAIN STRUCTURE IS SECURED, BUT IT IS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. ALL RIGHT. SO WE DO CONSIDER THIS PROPERTY AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE. AS DEFINED BY THE STATE. AND THE LOCAL CODES. SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION TO FIND THAT THE CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE CITY'S ORDINANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THIS CHAPTER SPECIFYING MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS AS WELL AS THE CITY'S BUILDING, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, AND FIRE CODES AND THAT SUCH CONDITIONS EXTEND EXIST TO THE EXTENT THAT LIFE, HEALTH AND PROPERTY OR SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC OR ITS OCCUPANTS ARE ENDANGERED. WE ASK THAT THE COMMISSION FIND THAT THE PROPERTY IS SUBSTANDARD AND THAT IT BE ORDERED ABATED AND AT THIS POINT, WE DO WANT TO OPEN THIS UP FOR PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PROPERTY TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION. HOW Y'ALL DOING? BEEN DOING TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOT BAD. A LITTLE COLD OUT THERE. OKAY, LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON SO I CAN SEE. MR. DAWSON, IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. KEITH DAWSON, 900 NORTH, HIGHWAY 51, NORTH DECATUR, TEXAS. MY FIRST CORRECTION. RONALD MCDONALD MCDADE AND TAMMY HARRIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE LISTED AS OWNERS, THEY HAVE NEVER LIVED IN A HOUSE. THEY WERE MY GRANDFATHER'S CHILDREN, BUT NOT BY BETWEEN MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER. SO I SHOULD BE REALLY THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOULD BE LISTED AS A PROPERTY OWNER. I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT INFORMATION, YOU KNOW HOW THAT CAME ABOUT. MY SECOND IS IN 2015. MY MOTHER WENT TO THE TAX OFFICE AND HAD THAT PROPERTY DECLARED A STRUCTURE, NOT A HOUSE, BUT A STRUCTURE AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE LISTED ON THE TAX CODE, AS IT SHOULD BE AS A STRUCTURE. BEEN USING IT REALLY SINCE 2005 AS A STORAGE FACILITY. WHETHER IT BE MY EQUIPMENT, TRACTORS, FARMS, FARM EQUIPMENT, IT'S BEEN SO FOR THE BETTER PART OF 20 YEARS IT'S BEEN USED AS A STORAGE FACILITY. EVEN RIGHT NOW, IT'S STILL USED AS A STORAGE FACILITY. SO, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAD TO DECLARE IT AS NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT AS A HOUSE, BUT AS A STORAGE, AS A STRUCTURE, AS A STORAGE FACILITY. I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW THE HOUSE CAME TO BE, HOW IT IS THAT GOES BACK TO MY UNCLE, [00:10:06] WHO'S NOW DECEASED. SO, YEAH, EVERYBODY'S GOT AN UNCLE. MY SECOND, MY THIRD QUESTION IS. WHAT CONSTITUTES I GOT MY GLASSES ON, SO I CAN'T READ. OH YEAH. BUT MY THIRD IS THE TAXES HAVE BEEN PAID ON IT. SO IT'S NOT IN DELINQUENT AND I SAID I'VE, YOU KNOW I'VE USED THAT PROPERTY FOR 20 SOME YEARS AS A STORAGE, YOU KNOW, AS A STORAGE. AND I'M IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING IT ADDED TO MY AG TO MAKE IT AG EXEMPT, SINCE I DO STORE MY FARM EQUIPMENT THERE. SO DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY ANY QUESTIONS? Y'ALL HAVE ANY ANYTHING I'D LIKE TO ASK ME? MY QUESTION, MR. DAWSON, IS WHY WOULD YOU NOT LIVE THERE? WELL, I GUESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO THAT STORY. WHEN MY GRANDPA DIED. HE DIDN'T LEAVE A WILL. SO ME AND MY UNCLE WERE LIVING IN THE HOUSE TOGETHER. BUT MY UNCLE SAW FIT THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO LIVE THERE AND PULLED A GUN ON ME. TOLD ME I HAD TO GO LIVE SOME OTHER PLACE. THREE MONTHS AFTER I MOVED OUT, HE BOARDED IT UP AND WENT AND MOVED DOWN IN THE NANCY, ONE OF NANCY ROSENTHAL'S HOUSE AND LEFT IT BOARDED UP. HE DIDN'T PASS TILL HIS DEMENTIA KICKED IN. IN 2015 WAS WHEN WE FINALLY GOT THE HOUSE AND STRUCTURE. PRETTY MUCH OUT OF HIS HANDS, SO TO SAY. HE WAS INCAPABLE OF STANDING AND ME AND MY MOM'S WAY. IN 2015 IS WHEN MY MOTHER WENT UP THERE AND DECLARED THE HOUSE A STRUCTURE. NOW, BY THAT TIME, I WAS ALREADY LIVING IN ANOTHER HOUSE. SO IN THAT 15 YEARS HE HAD USED IT AS A STORAGE BUILDING. STORAGE. SO BY THE TIME WE COME IN THERE TO JUST CONTINUE TO JUST USE IT AS A STORAGE FACILITY. SO HOW DID IT BECOME A STRUCTURE ON THE TAX ROLLS? YEAH, MY MOM'S PASSED AWAY, SO I DO NOT KNOW. SHE WENT UP THERE, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO WHEN THE TAXES YOU COME DOWN TO PROTEST YOUR TAXES. SHE TOOK PICTURES. SHE WENT UP THERE AND CAME UP HERE TO THE OR WENT UP HERE TO THE TAX OFFICE, SHOWED THEM THE PICTURE AND THAT'S HOW BECAME A THEY SWITCHED IT OVER FROM A HOUSE TO A STRUCTURE. SO LET ME DEFER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. DO WE HAVE OTHER HOUSES, PER SE, IN THE CITY THAT ARE LISTED AS STRUCTURES RATHER THAN HOUSES? I'M UNAWARE THAT THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I DON'T KNOW THAT MECHANISM. I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN OUR RECORDS IN THE CITY, BUT THIS IS A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DESIGNATED A HOUSE. OKAY. YES. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE THE SOLE OWNER AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON IT. I HEAR YOU, BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE TITLE SEARCH, WHICH WAS JUST DONE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS OR SO AGO, DOES INDICATE MR. MCDADE OR ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM, TAMMY HARRIS AND RONALD AND DONALD MCDADE. YEAH, EXACTLY. SO IS THAT AN ERROR IN YOUR OPINION? YES. OKAY. THEY, LIKE I SAID, THEY WERE MY GRANDFATHER'S KIDS, BUT THEY WERE NOT BETWEEN MY GRANDFATHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER. SO I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD BE LISTED ON THE TITLE SEARCH. I MEAN, UNLESS THEY WENT BY THE DEATH CERTIFICATE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THEY SHOULD. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHARON DAWSON. WELDON DAWSON. SHARON DAWSON BEING MY MOTHER. WELL, AND ALSO BEING MY UNCLE AND ME. [00:15:03] KEITH DAWSON, ARE THESE PEOPLE STILL ALIVE? NO, THEY'RE ALL DECEASED. YEAH. [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH. YOU GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND, MR. CROSS?WELL, YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY. WELL, IF THIS STRUCTURE IS CONDEMNED, AND IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MY OPINION TO DO THAT. HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT YOU FOR STORING FARM EQUIPMENT? QUITE A BIT. WHERE DO YOU STORE FARM EQUIPMENT? OTHER THAN I'VE SEEN SOME OUTSIDE. IS THERE SOME INSIDE SOMEWHERE? YEAH. WELL, WHAT EQUIPMENT ARE YOU STORING INSIDE THAT STRUCTURE? OH, I GOT, YOU KNOW, JUST MOTORS JUST BASIC FORM OF, YOU KNOW, FARM EQUIPMENT, MECHANICAL STUFF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, STORED INSIDE. PLUS, I SAID, PLUS, THE HOUSE IS FULLY FURNISHED. I MEAN, EVERY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS STILL IN THE HOUSE. ALL THE FURNITURE AND EVERYTHING IS STILL IN THERE. BUT, YEAH, JUST LIKE I SAID, JUST YOUR NORMAL EVERYDAY OR WHAT YOU WOULD USE ON YOUR, YOU KNOW, ON THE FARM STUFF THAT SMALLER STUFF IMPLEMENTS ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU KNOW, MOTORS GEARS. JUST DIFFERENT TYPE FARM EQUIPMENT. WHAT SHAPE IS THE ROOF? THE MAIN ROOF IS. WELL, ACTUALLY, I WANT TO SAY ROOF IS PROBABLY LEAKING, BUT IT'S NOT STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO MR. SMITH. IS THE CITY IDENTIFIED THE INTERIOR AS LEAKING? AND, YES, SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT YOU HAVE THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THERE, YOU CAN SEE THE COLLAPSED CEILING THAT'S IN THERE, AS WELL AS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. YOU'RE PAYING. YOU SAY YOU'RE PAYING TAXES ON IT. IS THE PROPERTY INSURED? NO. OKAY. SO THERE IS NO INSURANCE ON IT AND THAT. SECOND STORY IS HARD TO TELL FROM THE PICTURES, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S ON ITS WAY TO SINKING IN. IS THAT SECOND STORY? I MEAN, IS THAT A SPACE YOU CAN USE LOOKING AT THAT PICTURE? WELL, I HAVE NOT USED IT. I HAVE NOT. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE NOT USED IT. I MEAN, I HAD LIKE I SAID, NO, I HAVE NOT USED THAT SECOND STORY SINCE I MOVED OUT OF THERE. YEAH, THAT'D BE MY. THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT SECOND STORY CAME COLLAPSING IN. THAT FROM THE PICTURES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PICTURES IN OUR PACKET AND EVERYTHING. IT REALLY APPEARS TO ME THAT ROOF'S NOT REALLY FALLING AND IF IT'S LEAKING AND EVERYTHING, IT'S GOING TO DETERIORATE THE WOOD AND THEN THE STRUCTURE AND SO FORTH. ANYWAY. WHAT WE'RE AFTER IS BEING SAFE AND BEING SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR YOU TOO. YEAH. YOU KNOW BUT THIS STRUCTURE REALLY DETERIORATED SHAPE. MR. CARLSON, WHEN DID YOU INHERIT THIS PROPERTY? PRETTY MUCH ME AND MY MOM [INAUDIBLE], THERE WAS NO WILL. WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED, I WAS LIVING IN THE I WAS LIVING IN THE HOUSE IN 2000 WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED. AS I SAID, ME AND MY UNCLE, WE GOT CROSSWAYS. I MOVED OUT IN 2001. THREE MONTHS LATER, HE BOARDED IT UP, WALKED AWAY FROM IT. HE DIDN'T WANT IT, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT ME OR MY MOM TO HAVE IT. SO REALLY FROM 2000? PRETTY MUCH. BUT AS I SAID, WE DIDN'T PRETTY MUCH FROM 2000. [00:20:07] WE INHERITED IT, BUT WAS NOT UNDER COULD DO NOT COULD DO ANYTHING WITH IT TILL HE CAME DOWN WITH DEMENTIA IN 2015 AND THEN THAT'S WHEN ME AND MY MOM STEPPED IN AND, START DOING A TRY THE BEST WE COULD. BUT YEAH. SO YEAH THIS IS A THIS. YEAH. LIKE I SAID THIS IS A SORE SPOT WITH ME. IT REALLY IS. I MEAN, I GREW UP IN THIS HOUSE. IT WAS IT JUST WASN'T THE BEST HOUSE IN EAST SIDE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST HOUSES IN DECATUR. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOUSES IN DECATUR AND YEAH, THIS IS MY INHERITANCE, MY LEGACY. BUT NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT OVER ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT I'VE DONE. IT'S JUST I'VE INHERITED A HEADACHE [INAUDIBLE]. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN BY THERE. IS THERE A STORAGE BEHIND THAT HOUSE? YEAH. THERE'S A GARAGE AND THEN ANOTHER STORAGE SHED. THAT'S BACK THERE. SO I GOT THERE. THAT'S FULL OF TOOLS TOO AND SO I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING BRIEF HERE. SECTION 10- 111 OF THE MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS AND THEN SECTION B 5 AND 6. BOTH STATE MAINTAIN A STRUCTURE INTENDED FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY AND STRUCTURE USED AS ACCESSORY TO A STRUCTURE INTENDED FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY IN A WEATHER TIGHT AND WATER TIGHT CONDITION AND SIX MAINTAIN FLOORS, WALLS, CEILING AND ALL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE. MEMBERS IN A SOUND CONDITION CAPABLE OF BEARING IMPOSED SAFETY LOADS. SO IF YOU'RE IN THE CONDITION WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS PROPERTY, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO ONE NOT ONLY JUST MAKE THOSE PAIRS REPAIRS, BUT WE'D ALSO HAVE TO GO OUT AND REINSPECT THE PROPERTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CRITERIA ARE MET. YEAH. I MEAN, I'M SAYING 80%. I'M 80% SURE. I CAN'T GIVE YOU 100%. I ONLY SAY 80. SO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO BRING THE STRUCTURE BACK TO WATERPROOF AND WELL, MY ACTUALLY, MY PLAN IS TO ONLY TEAR. I MEAN, I'M IN THE PROCESS. I APPLIED FOR A LOAN, BUT RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING'S KIND OF TOPSY TURVY. AN IMPROVEMENT LOAN. BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO MY PLAN IS TO TEAR DOWN UP TO A CERTAIN POINT AND THEN JUST LEAVE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE HOUSE OR STRUCTURE. IS THAT POSSIBLE? YEAH, THE WAY IT'S BUILT. YES IT IS. MR. DAWSON, I'M READING THE NOTES FROM INSPECTOR DENNY AND MAY 29TH OF 2024, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS AGO, HE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU, AND YOU SAID MR. DENNY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN BAD SHAPE AND YOU SAID YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN BAD SHAPE AND NEEDED TO BE DEMOLISHED, BUT MONEY WAS THE ISSUE. I'M JUST READING FROM THE NOTES. YEAH. SO IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE AT LEAST MAY 29TH OF 2024. YOU'RE ALSO SAYING TODAY THAT YOU'RE. I'M STILL. APPLYING FOR. I'VE APPLIED FOR IT. I'M STILL. YEAH, ETC.. HOW REALISTIC DO YOU THINK IT'LL BE THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A LOAN AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS COSTS TO BRING UP TO STANDARD, BUT HOW REALISTIC DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT IN THE NEXT, LET'S SAY, 30 DAYS, HYPOTHETICALLY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A LOAN? 30 DAYS. I MEAN, I HAVE NO IDEA BECAUSE I'M GOING THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT. SO I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA ON ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS GIVEN, YOU KNOW. YEAH. SO IN 30 DAYS, I HAVE NO IDEA. I CAN'T EVEN. YEAH. LIKE I SAID, I STARTED THIS, I STARTED THE LOAN. LIKE I SAID, I STARTED IT BACK IN SEPTEMBER, STARTED THE PROCESS FOR THE LOAN AND GOT IT SUBMITTED. RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT. [00:25:04] YEAH. I HAVE NO IDEA ON THEIR TIME FRAME. WELL, I ALONG WITH [INAUDIBLE] QUESTION HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ABOUT 20 GRAND TO TEAR IT DOWN, TO DEMOLISH IT IS ABOUT 20 GRAND TO TEAR IT DOWN. THAT'S WHAT. YEAH. COMING FROM A BANKING AND LENDING PERSPECTIVE, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME USING THIS PROPERTY AS COLLATERAL AS WELL. YOU'RE GOING TO I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY BANKS IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION THAT WILL ACCEPT THIS AS A LIVABLE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, PROPERTY. SO ANY LOAN, IF YOU ARE INTENDING TO GO THAT ROUTE, WILL NOT BE USING THE PROPERTY. SO YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY AROUND THAT. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET LOANS FOR RENOVATION, BUT AGAIN, NOT USING COLLATERAL WITH THIS HOUSE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. DAWSON, FOR US BEFORE WE CLOSE PUBLIC? WELL, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING NOT SO MUCH THIS, BUT SOME STANDARDS, SOME VERY, YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE MINIMUM DISTANCE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A BUILDING AND THEN BE ON THE YOU HAVE A FENCE AND YOU CAN BE OFF THE FENCE LINE. I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO. [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S OFF OF OUR AGENDA, SO I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO MR. SMITH. OKAY. WE'RE HAPPY. HAPPY TO GET WITH YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. BUT NOT IN THE PUBLIC FORUM. OKAY. NOT DURING PUBLIC HEARING. ALRIGHT. SO, YEAH. SO THAT'S ALL [INAUDIBLE]. I SAID, THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I'M HAPPY TO STAY AFTER THE MEETING TO MEET WITH YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GOT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO. YEAH. SO THAT'S ALL I. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THAT LAST QUESTION. WHAT'S THE RELEVANCE OF THE QUESTION, MR. DAWSON, TO THE PROPERTY? IS THERE RELEVANCE TO THE DECISION AS FAR AS HOW THE SETBACK. NOT THIS PROPERTY, BUT. OKAY. YES. LET'S DO THAT AFTERWARD. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO, YEAH. SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. THAT'S MY STORY. THAT'S ALL. YOU KNOW? THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. EVEN FROM THE GRAVE, MY UNCLE IS STILL IN MY POCKET. SO IT'S JUST IT'S YEAH. SO I SAID IT'S. YEAH. LIKE I SAID, IT'S JUST BEEN JUST WHEN YOU THINK EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD. YEAH. SO ANYWAY. BUT. YEAH, THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. IT IS 4:03. ARE WE IN A GOOD POSITION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AT 4:03. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ARE WE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION NOW OR. YES. ARE WE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION? YES. SO I DID DRIVE BY THE PROPERTY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I DROVE AROUND THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER THE STRUCTURE UNSAFE FOR THE NEIGHBORS. FOR ANY CHILDREN IN THE AREA, FOR ANY. FOR ANY RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. I THIS PICTURE RIGHT HERE, I THINK, TO WHAT JOE WAS SAYING EARLIER, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THOSE RAFTERS BREAK AND THAT IT COLLAPSES ON ITSELF. AND I SIT HERE AND I SAID ANYTHING, BUT MY THOUGHTS WERE EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. I WONDER ABOUT KIDS BECAUSE THERE ARE KIDS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SOMEBODY STUMBLED IN THERE AND WENT IN THERE, AND SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM IN THE SHAPE OF THAT ROOF RIGHT THERE. WITH THE WEATHER THAT WE'RE HAVING, IF WE HAD SNOW TO GO WITH IT, I BET YOU THAT ROOF WOULD GO RIGHT ON IN. I DON'T DOUBT THAT FOR A SECOND. I'M JUST GUESSING. BUT I THINK THAT I MEAN I DON'T REALLY SEE ANYTHING SO SAFE ABOUT IF YOU'RE SPEAKING, IF YOU'D MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MICROPHONES ARE ON, YOU'RE SPEAKING INTO THAT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE CAPTURED. I MEAN, I'M AGAIN, WHILE I'M EMPATHETIC TO MR. DAWSON'S FAMILY HISTORY AND FAMILY STORY, WE ALL HAVE AN UNCLE SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. DAWSON WAS DESCRIBING. BUT I'M LOOKING AT INSPECTOR DENNY'S NOTES. [00:30:04] CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES. AND THIS HAS BEEN. I MEAN, THE FIRST COMMUNICATION WAS MAY. MAY OF 2024, 8 AND A HALF MONTHS AGO. AND NOTHING. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY IMPROVEMENT IN EIGHT AND A HALF MONTHS. CORRECT. SO TO ME THAT IS CONCERNING. YEAH. WELL, THIS ALSO TO ME SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE LONGER PROPERTIES WE'VE TAKEN TO ADDRESS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE. CORRECT. SO AS A BOARD, I THINK WE HAVE THREE CHOICES. WELL, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO, IS DETERMINE IF IT'S SUBSTANDARD. OKAY. THAT FOLLOWS ALONG WITH OUR ORDINANCE AND STATE LAW. AS FAR AS HOW WE WORK THROUGH THIS PROPERTY. AND THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS DETERMINE IF IT IS A SUBSTANDARD THAT'S FOUND IN THE ADOPTED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY AND HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION UP THERE FOR YOU. BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE. VICE CHAIR KLEINSMITH THAT THE ENTIRE PACKET HAS BEEN RECEIVED INTO THE RECORD. I HAVE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED THE ENTIRE PACKET. AMONG MY COLLEAGUES HERE. OKAY. AND THEN I WAS HOPING THAT EACH OF YOU COULD STATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE RELATED TO BUILDINGS. I'VE BEEN AN INVESTOR, A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND I'VE DONE SEVERAL HOME REMODELS. PERSONALLY, I ALSO HAVE A BROTHER IN LAW OR A RELATIVE THAT I CONSIDER A BROTHER IN LAW WHO'S A CONTRACTOR. OKAY. MR. GILLESPIE, PLUMBING SINCE 1962. I'VE DONE REMODELS, NEW CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL FOR QUITE A WHILE. MR. KLEINSMITH, I'VE BEEN A MORTGAGE LENDER FOR THE LAST DECADE AND RECENTLY MOVED INTO UNDERWRITING LOANS AND REVIEW APPRAISALS DAILY. MR. FEATHERSTON MR. ELECTRICIAN AND ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AND BANK CONSTRUCTION 25 PLUS YEARS, PROBABLY. MR. CROSS, I WAS IN SALES FOR 42 YEARS AND HAD VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH CONSTRUCTION. BUT A FRIEND OF MINE BEQUEATHED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF HIS RENTAL PROPERTY IN ARLINGTON WHEN HE MOVED TO CORPUS, AND I GOT TO DO THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I GOT TO PUT THOSE RENTAL PROPERTIES BACK TOGETHER A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHICH WAS NOT PLEASANT, BUT WE GOT IT DONE. THANK YOU, EACH OF YOU. TAKE MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. YEAH. YES, SIR. COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN. JUST FOR THE RECORD. KEITH DAWSON. BEEN BUILDING HOUSES SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD AND I'M ALSO NOW A OSHA, STANDARD INSPECTOR. PROBABLY IN MY LIFETIME. PROBABLY BUILT OVER 60 HOUSES. SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE READY FOR A MOTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KICK IT OFF. I MOVE THAT THE STRUCTURE, LOCATED AT 605 NORTH ARTHUR AND DECATUR, DOES MEET THE CRITERIA OF A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE. HAVING A MOTION FROM MR. MUHAMMAD. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. A SECOND FROM MR. CROSS. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. SO, IN FOLLOWING WITH OUR ORDINANCE, THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS CONCERNING THE ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE. IT'S SET VERY CLEARLY IN STATE LAW WHAT ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE ON GIVING TIMELINES FOR THE ABATEMENT OF THIS. THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT TIME PERIODS. ONE OF THEM IS 30 DAYS, THE OTHER ONE BEING 30 TO 90 DAYS AND THE THIRD ONE BEING IN EXCESS OF 90 DAYS. THEY EACH COME WITH THEIR OWN CRITERIA AND CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS [00:35:07] ALONG THE WAY WITH THAT. THE THEY DO REQUIRE THAT THE BUILDING BE SECURED FROM UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY AND THEN BEING ABLE TO REPAIR, REMOVE OR DEMOLISH THE BUILDING WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME. THE ONLY STIPULATION OR THE MORE RESTRICTIVE STIPULATION ON THAT BEING IN EXCESS OF 90 DAYS. IT DOES REQUIRE A DETAILED PLAN BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW, AND THAT THE WORK CAN BE ESTABLISHED, THAT THE WORK CANNOT BE COMPLETED WITHIN THAT 90 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK AND THAT REGULARLY THAT THE APPLICANT OR THE OWNER REGULARLY SUBMITS PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE MUNICIPALITY TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TIME SCHEDULES ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENCEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK AND SO YOU'LL SEE THE 30 DAY TIME PERIOD UNDER A, ON THIS ONE, THE 30 TO 90 DAY TIME PERIOD UNDER B AND THEN UNDER C IS IN EXCESS OF 90 DAYS. ARE WE FREE TO DISCUSS AMONGST OURSELVES HERE? YES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY PRUDENT. I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO STOP HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO SECURE IT OR MAKE SURE IT'S STRUCTURALLY SOUND IF IT HAS A PURPOSE AND CAN BE SAFE. BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, IT'S NOT A STRUCTURE I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING IN. JUST BASED ON THE COLLAPSE OF THE STARTING COLLAPSE OF THE ROOF. SO I DON'T KNOW Y'ALL'S OPINION ON WHAT THE WAY FORWARD IS ON IT IF THERE IS ONE. I [INAUDIBLE] EXCUSE ME, KEITH DAWSON. THE STRUCTURE IS SECURED. SO THAT'S RIGHT. THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE LAST PEOPLE THAT BROKE INTO IT, THEY CAUGHT SOME 410 BUCK SHOTS. SO IT'S BEEN SECURED. IT'S BEEN SECURED FOR 20 SOME YEARS. IT'S ALL GOT LOCKS ON IT. ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. UNLESS THEY BREAK IN THE WINDOWS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT AS FAR AS JUST EASY ENTRY ACCESS, THERE IS NONE. YOU CAN'T YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST GO UP IN THERE. SO [INAUDIBLE]. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, MR. WILSON, YOU HAVE A PLAN TO THAT YOU CAN SUBMIT TO US TODAY THAT OUTLINES A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE THERE THAT YOU CAN I CAN START. I MEAN, BASICALLY, I'VE TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT DEMOLITION COMPANIES. THAT'S HOW I GOT THE $20,000 PRICE TAG. LIKE I SAID, THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST FINDING THE THE FINANCING TO TO DEMOLISH THE DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY. THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, SO LIKE I PAY IT. BUT THEN THAT PUTS ME IN A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. SO, MR. DAWSON, YOU SAID YOU'VE CONTACTED THREE DEMO COMPANIES, SO I ASSUME THAT'S YOUR INTENTION, THEN? YEAH. IS TO DEMO. YEAH. VERTICAL? YEAH. OKAY. [INAUDIBLE]. AS I SAID, IT'S JUST THE COST IN COMING UP. YEAH. THAT'S WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON I APPLIED FOR THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT FOR LOANS. I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION FOR OPTION TWO. I BELIEVE THAT WILL GIVE HIM A LITTLE LEEWAY ON HIS TIME FRAME. OPTION B, MEANING UP TO 90 DAYS. YES, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR A MOTION OR A SUGGESTED DIFFERENT OPTION. I, AGREE WITH YOU THAT I THINK BASED ON WHAT MR. DAWSON HAS SAID, THAT HE'S LOOKING TO DEMO THE BUILDING. HE'S LOOKING TO DEMO THE STRUCTURE. ANYTHING THAT IS VERTICAL. I THINK GIVING HIM A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF TIME UP TO ANOTHER 90 DAYS, I THINK IS PRUDENT, IN MY OPINION. [00:40:05] I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO WE NEED A SECOND VOTE HERE? OKAY. YES YOU WILL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO. I MOVE THAT THE STRUCTURE LOCATED ON 605 NORTH ARTHUR STREET AND DECATUR. BE REPAIRED, REMOVED OR DEMOLISHED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF NOTIFICATION. THE DEMOLITION SHALL BEGIN NO LATER THAN TOMORROW. 20TH, WHICH IS. THANK YOU, SIR, WHICH IS FEBRUARY 20TH AND ALL WORK COMPLETED NO LATER THAN. MAY 19TH. IS THAT CORRECT? CAN SOMEONE CHECK MY 90 DAYS. LEAP YEAR? WE'RE IN A LEAP YEAR. IS IT MAY 19TH OR MAY 20TH? YOUR CITY MANAGER'S CHECKING. IT APPEARS TO BE MAY 20TH. MAY 20TH. OKAY, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE DEMOLITION SHALL BEGIN NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 20TH OF 2025. AND ALL WORK COMPLETED NO LATER THAN MAY 20TH, 2025. THE PROPERTY SHALL REMAIN UNOCCUPIED AND SECURED FROM UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY DURING THE TIME THE WORK IS BEING COMPLETED. THAT IS MY MOTION, MISTER CHAIR, AND A SECOND AND A SECOND FROM MISTER CROSS AND FOR THE RECORD, THE 90 DAYS OF NOTIFICATION. THE RECORD WOULD REFLECT THAT TODAY IS THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION. THANK YOU, MISS PAM. WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM MR. CROSS. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. OPTION TWO PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND JUST. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY OUT IN THE OPEN WITH THIS AND SO WITH THAT. WELL, WE GET BACK ONE MORE SLIDE. THERE'S ONE MORE. THERE'S THE MOTION. THERE ARE PORTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT DEAL WITH FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS. WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO YOU NO LATER THAN THAT. MAY 20TH. WELL, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT MONTH. SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE JUNE BEFORE WE'D HAVE IT BACK BEFORE THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ON THIS. IF IT IS NOT DEMOLISHED, WE WILL GIVE YOU REGULAR PROGRESS REPORTS ON THAT ALONG THE WAY AND TRY TO KEEP YOU APPRIZED OF THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT IF ACTION ISN'T TAKEN, WE WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION FOR AN ORDER TO DEMOLISH THAT. ALL RIGHT. MR. SMITH, IN THE PAST, WHEN WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AND THEY'VE COME TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS AND WE'VE VOTED TO HAVE THE STRUCTURE DEMOLISHED BY THE OWNER, I BELIEVE ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS HAVE COMPLIED THAT HAVE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE. AND THAT WAS A PROPERTY THAT THE OWNERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO BE ASCERTAINED BECAUSE OF DEATH AND SO THAT WAS THE PROPERTY OVER HERE ON HOSSEL. OKAY. THE ONE THAT WAS BURNT DOWN OR PARTIALLY CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT AND THE CITY PAID FOR THE DEMOLITION ON THAT AND THEN FILED A LIEN AGAINST THE PROPERTY. OKAY. BUT ALL OTHER STRUCTURES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION HAVE HAD VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IN SOME MANNER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NINE. AGENDA ITEM NINE. IT SHOULD SAY THREE. CURRENT CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, RICK DENNY, IS SICK TODAY. HE TRIED TO COME IN. I ASKED HIM TO GO HOME BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY WANTED TO CATCH WHAT HE HAD, SO I DID ASK HIM TO GO HOME. SO I DON'T HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS REPORT FOR YOU TODAY. WE WILL TRY TO GET THAT BACK ON TO ANOTHER AGENDA FOR YOU AND THEN ON TO NEW OR FUTURE ITEMS. [ITEM 4: New and/or future business items. ] RIGHT NOW WE WOULD HAVE A BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 17TH, 2025, 03:30PM WITH ITEMS AT THIS POINT TO INCLUDE UPDATES FOR SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES DEPENDENT ON NOTICES TO [00:45:03] PROPERTY OWNERS AND ACTIONS FROM THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS MAY BE SCHEDULED. HAVING NO MORE AGENDA ITEMS, I WILL CLOSE OUR MEETING AT 4:20. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.