Sep 15, 2025 Building Standards Commission Workshop

I MEAN, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO SIGN MINUTES BEFORE WE LEAVE OUT OF HERE TODAY,

[00:00:04]

[Call to Order]

WE HAVE A QUORUM PLUS ONE TODAY. AND FOR OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS TO

[ITEM 1: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding June 16, 2025, Minutes.]

JUNE. JUNE 16TH. EXCUSE ME. AFTER REVIEWING THE MINUTES, I WILL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JUNE 16TH MINUTES. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM DANNY AND A SECOND FROM SHAUN.

THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.

AGENDA ITEM ONE PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO TO TAKE MINUTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 21ST.

[ITEM 2: Discuss and take appropriate action regarding July 21, 2025, Minutes.]

MOTION FROM SAMER. SECOND. AND A SECOND FROM JOE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[ITEM 3: The Commission receive updates concerning the structure owned by Cristobal Hernandez at 503 W Ward Street that was deemed substandard by the commission on June 16, 2025 and an order of demolition was issued on July 21, 2025. (BSC 23-00188)]

THAT WAS DEEMED SUBSTANDARD AND AN ORDER OF DEMOLITION WAS ISSUED JULY 21ST.

I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, RICK DENNEY, SO THAT HE CAN LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT.

MR. HERNANDEZ DECIDED THAT THAT HE WOULD GO AHEAD AND DEMO THE HOUSE ITSELF.

HE'S BEEN WORKING ON IT PRETTY MUCH BY HIMSELF.

HE'S HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, BUT HE'S DOWN, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE PICTURE THERE.

HE'S DOWN TO PROBABLY ONE MORE ROLL OFF DUMPSTER FULL OF STUFF, AND HE'LL BE COMPLETE WITH THAT.

SO IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER. HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB GETTING IT CLEANED UP FOR US.

ANY OTHER UPDATES FOR ITEM THREE? SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOOD.

MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR AND OUR REVISION TO OUR ORDINANCE.

[ITEM 4: Consider and make a recommendation for the first reading of an ordinance to amend Article IV. - Unsafe, Dangerous or Hazardous Buildings and Structures, Section 10-111. - Minimum Property Standards to provide for basic minimum services, specifically water, sewer and electricity, to be required as minimum property standards.]

WE BROUGHT A REVISION TO THAT ORDINANCE TO YOU FOR YOU TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.

AFTER WE RECEIVED THAT RECOMMENDATION, WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD MISSED A FEW THINGS IN THAT REVISION.

AND SO WE WENT BACK AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND TRYING TO GET TO A GOOD SPOT ON IT.

AND SO BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW THIS IS SHORT NOTICE ON THIS. THIS RECOMMENDATION ON THIS.

IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TODAY, THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU NEED MORE TIME TO STUDY IT AND COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION, VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN ALSO DO THAT. BUT I CAN WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THE REVISION IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THIS AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS. SO YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN IS THE CURRENT PORTION OF THAT ORDINANCE.

SECTION 10-111 MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS SECTION A, WHICH DEFINES MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS.

PRIOR TO THIS REVISION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WE HAD ONE THROUGH SIX IN THERE.

THAT ONE THROUGH SIX ARE NOT CHANGING IN ANY WAY ON THAT.

WE'RE SIMPLY ADDING A NUMBER SEVEN TO THIS, WHICH DEALS WITH MINIMUM SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU CAN SEE IN THERE THAT THIS PERTAINS PARTICULARLY TO THAT NO PERSON SHALL OCCUPY AS AN OWNER, OCCUPANT OR LET OR SUBLET TO ANOTHER FOR OCCUPANCY ANY DWELLING OR DWELLING UNIT DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIVING, SLEEPING, COOKING, OR EATING THEREIN. NOR SHALL ANY VACANT DWELLING BUILDING BE PERMITTED TO EXIST WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN THERE'S SEVERAL SUBSECTIONS UNDER THAT.

A BEING SANITARY FACILITIES REQUIRED. THIS IS THAT THEY ARE HOOKED TO, THAT THEY HAVE A THEY HAVE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF A KITCHEN SINK, LAVATORY TUB OR SHOWER AND A WATER CLOSET IN A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT.

ALL THOSE PLUMBING FIXTURES HAVE TO BE HOOKED TO WATER AND WASTEWATER, PIPE PROPERLY AND MAINTAINED IN A GOOD SANITARY WORKING CONDITION,

[00:05:04]

C DEALS WITH HOT AND COLD WATER SUPPLY, STATING THAT EVERY DWELLING UNIT SHALL HAVE CONNECTED TO THE KITCHEN, SINK, LAVATORY AND TUB OR SHOWER, AND ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF BOTH COLD WATER AND HOT WATER.

ALL WATER SHALL BE SUPPLIED THROUGH AN APPROVED PIPE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CONNECTED TO A POTABLE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY.

D HAS TO DEAL WITH HOT WATER HEATING FACILITIES.

EVERY DWELLING UNIT SHALL HAVE WATER HEATING FACILITIES WHICH ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED IN A SAFE AND GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

I'M SORRY. WE HAVE. WE GOT TWO D'S. YES. BUT THE E SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH HEATING FACILITIES.

HEATING FACILITIES, THIS IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT, AND THIS IS A MINIMUM CODE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL, ALL DWELLING UNITS SHALL HAVE A WAY TO HEAT THAT FACILITY OR THAT DWELLING.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR AIR CONDITIONING THAT IS REQUIRED.

HOWEVER, HEATING, BECAUSE OUR MINIMUM DESIGN TEMPERATURE FOR HEATING CALLS FOR HEATING IN THOSE AREAS BASICALLY CALLS OUT THAT IT WILL BE PROPERLY INSTALLED, MAINTAINED AND SAFE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION AND WHERE GAS OR ELECTRIC CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM IS NOT PROVIDED EACH DWELLING UNIT SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH SUFFICIENT FIREPLACES, CHIMNEYS, FLUES OR OTHER GAS VENTS TO WHICH HEATING APPLIANCES MAY BE CONNECTED SO AS TO ADEQUATELY HEAT THE SAME. BASICALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS A PROPERTY, THEY HAVE HEATING FACILITIES. WE DON'T GET ANYBODY SICK OR HURT ANYBODY WITH THAT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE OFFSET ON THE LETTERS, BUT THIS WOULD BE F, COOKING AND HEATING EQUIPMENT DOES CALL FOR ANY COOKING OR HEATING EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO BE INSTALLED PER THE CITY'S BUILDING GAS OR ELECTRIC CODE, AND SHALL BE MAINTAINED IN A SAFE AND GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

THE NEXT ONE WOULD CALL FOR GARBAGE DISPOSAL FACILITY.

THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE FACILITIES OR THE CONTAINERS TO COMPLY WITH THE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.

THE NEXT ONE DEALS WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTS AND OUTLETS.

THIS IS A VERY MINIMAL REQUIREMENT ON ELECTRIC LIGHTS AND OUTLETS.

THE ACTUAL CODE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT'S HERE.

HOWEVER, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL FACILITIES HAVE THESE ELECTRIC LIGHTS AND OUTLETS AS REQUIRED THESE ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT. AND SO THOSE THINGS ARE THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THAT PROPERTY, MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS THAT ARE IN THERE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY.

THANKS TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER. TWO D'S IN THERE.

A 78 YEAR OLD MAN REVIEWED THIS THING NOT TWO HOURS AGO.

IT NEVER EVEN CAME CLOSE TO NOTICING THERE WERE TWO D'S IN THERE.

ITEM SEVEN B. LOCATION OF SANITARY FACILITIES? YES. MAYBE IT'S JUST SEMANTICS OR I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

ARE WE. ARE WE SAYING THAT THE WATER CLOSET, THE TUB, THE SHOWER ALL HAVE TO HAVE SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE ROOMS FOR PRIVACY OR. THAT THOSE FIXTURES SHALL BE LOCATED IN A ROOM AFFORDING THE USER PRIVACY. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE TOILET ROOM HAS TO HAVE A DOOR FOR PRIVACY.

NO, SIR. OKAY. NO, SIR. JUST THAT THOSE FACILITIES ARE IN A ROOM THAT THEY CAN HAVE PRIVACY.

PRIVACY. OKAY. THANK YOU. JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WAS THERE WHAT WAS THE REASONING FOR THIS ADDITION? WAS THERE SOMEONE THAT WAS TRYING TO DEEM A PROPERTY AS STANDARD WHEN IT SHOULD IN FACT BE SUBSTANDARD WITHOUT THESE? NO, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME, SOME CASES THAT ARE WORKING THEMSELVES THROUGH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT WHERE

[00:10:01]

YES, SIR. THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON PROBABLY, I WOULD THINK, SQUATTING, JUST PEOPLE JUST MOVING IN AND LIVING.

RIGHT. SAY THERE'S A PROPERTY THAT'S IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT THE POWER'S BEEN SHUT OFF AND.

YES, SIR. THEY'RE TRYING TO. YEAH. THEY'RE JUST USING THAT RANDOM ROOM.

AND ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY DEALINGS WITH PROPERTY UNDERSTANDS THAT ONCE YOU SHUT OFF THOSE SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S ELECTRIC OR WATER OR A SEWER, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE, THAT PROPERTY GOES DOWNHILL QUICKLY. THAT DOES IMPACT THE BASIC ECONOMIC CAPACITY FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THESE IN THERE SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PURSUE THESE CASES WHEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY LIVING IN A STRUCTURE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THESE BASIC MINIMUM SERVICES.

CAN I ASK ANOTHER CLARIFYING QUESTION? THE NEXT PAGE WHERE IT HAS THE TWO D'S.

WHEN WE USE WORDS LIKE THE FIRST D, IT SAYS EVERY DWELLING SHALL HAVE WATER HEATING FACILITIES WHICH ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED, MAINTAINED AND IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

THE NEXT ONE SAYS HEATING FACILITIES PROPERLY INSTALLED, MAINTAINED IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

DO WE DEFINE WHAT IS GOOD WORKING CONDITION SOMEWHERE ELSE? NO, SIR. I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE A A DEFINITION FOR GOOD WORKING CONDITION.

HOWEVER BASIC MINIMUM CODE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE BUILDING CODES WOULD APPLY TO THAT.

OKAY. THAT SO THERE IS ANOTHER REFERENCE. ABSOLUTELY.

SO JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, ON WATER HEATING FACILITIES, THERE IS A VERY STRICT STANDARD BY WHICH THEY HAVE TO INSTALL THAT WATER HEATING FACILITY, WHETHER IT'S GAS, WHETHER IT'S ELECTRIC THERE ARE CERTAIN SAFETY FEATURES THAT HAVE TO BE INCLUDED WITH THAT.

PERFECT. SO BOTH OF THESE ARE ENFORCED BY CURRENT CODE? YES. BUILDING CODES THAT ARE ALREADY ADOPTED.

AND STATE LAW REFERENCES ALSO.

WE'VE GOT A OBVIOUSLY THE CODES ALREADY ENFORCED SO WE GOT TO FOLLOW IT.

SO THAT'S I THINK WHAT HE'S SAYING. SO IT'S COVERED MORE DEEPLY IN THAT.

SO IT'D BE OKAY. YEAH. IF WE CAME IN AND WE HAD REASON TO BELIEVE IF YOU CAN SEE THAT THE FLUES ARE NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED TO A GAS, WATER HEATER OR GAS HEATER UNIT, WE CAN SAY THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD FOR PROPERLY INSTALLED.

AND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH THE HOMES THAT WE HAVE CONDEMNED.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. IS THERE SOME VERBIAGE IN THERE THAT STATES THAT IT IS EITHER ONE CRITERIA, OR ALL HAVE TO BE MET TO MEET THE SUBSTANDARD? BECAUSE I COULD SEE A SITUATION WHERE A HOUSE HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A YEAR AND PLANT UTILITIES ARE SHUT OFF.

BUT IT MEETS IT'S NOT A SUBSTANDARD PROPERTY.

IT'S SECURED. SEALED. IT'S JUST EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.

HOW DOES THAT APPLY? SO THESE ARE MINIMUM PROPERTY STANDARDS.

SO THEY THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT THIS.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE OUT DISPLACED FROM WHERE THEY LIVE.

HOWEVER, WE DO WANT YOU TO HAVE THOSE MINIMUM FACILITIES THAT ARE THERE.

AS FAR AS EACH ONE OF THEM, YES, THEY STAND ALONE IN THAT BECAUSE WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS.

SO IT CAN BE ANY OR IT CAN BE ONE OR IT CAN BE ALL.

LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A SITUATION WHERE IT IS A FINE PROPERTY AND IT'S BEEN SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY.

YES. AND NO ONE'S LIVING IN THE PROPERTY. WOULD THAT STILL BE DEEMED A SUBSTANDARD PROPERTY? IT WOULD STILL FALL UNDER SUBSTANDARD. BUT OF COURSE, THE CORRECTION IS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE A TIME FRAME ON HOW LONG THAT OUR CITY ENFORCEMENT WILL ALLOW UTILITIES TO BE SHUT OFF IN A PROPERTY BEFORE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE DEFINED A TIME THAT GOES ON THERE.

IF THEY MEET ONE OF THESE, IT WOULD BE SUBSTANDARD.

WE WOULD TAKE ACTION AT THAT TIME. GENERALLY, WE GIVE THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TEN DAYS, TWO WEEKS UP TO A MONTH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS.

IF THEY'RE LIVING THERE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY IT MAY WORK ITSELF THROUGH THAT MAY HAVE CITATIONS THAT ARE ISSUED,

[00:15:07]

OKAY. SO OCCUPIED. RIGHT. OKAY. RIGHT. THAT CLEARS IT UP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT SAYS OCCUPIED. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO OCCUPY IT TO, YOU KNOW, SO YOU CAN HAVE A VACANT PROPERTY WITH THE UTILITY SHUT OFF, BUT NOBODY LIVING IN IT. OKAY. AND THEN THAT'S THAT'S OKAY.

BUT AS SOON AS THEY MOVE IN, THEN THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW BECAUSE OF THE OCCUPANCY.

RIGHT. THAT CLEARS IT UP. OKAY. I WANTED. TO THAT BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME BACK AND JUST SAY, WELL, Y'ALL DON'T SAY I'VE GOT TWO MONTHS TO IT.

WELL, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD GIVE THEM A TIMELINE WHENEVER THEY ARE NOTIFIED FOR WHEN THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT CORRECTED BY.

AND THEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT CORRECTED IN THAT TIMEFRAME, AT THAT POINT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, THROUGH CITATIONS OR ORDER TO APPEAR OR IF WE NEED TO, WE COULD ALWAYS IF IT'S A BAD SITUATION THAT WE NEED TO HANDLE, WE CAN BRING IT TO BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS MY TIME FRAME IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

AND THEN BUILDING STANDARDS COULD WORK THROUGH THAT. JUST A HYPOTHETICAL. SAY A GARAGE BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE.

THE HOMEOWNER IS LIKE, I'M MOVING OUT, I'M DONE AND SHUTS IT OFF.

AND HE SELLS THE PROPERTY AND ABC INVESTOR INVEST IN IT.

AND THEN THEY WAIT SIX MONTHS BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING, AND THEY COME IN THERE AND IT'S LIKE, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET THIS STRUCTURE FIXED OR WHATEVER. BUT THEN THE NEW HOMEOWNERS LIKE, WELL, I'M DOING THIS PART OR WHATEVER, AND THE CITY WOULD WORK WITH THEM ON THE TIME FRAME OF, OKAY, YOU'RE DOING THIS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THIS DONE TO GET YOUR ELECTRIC OR GET YOUR AC, SO ON AND SO ON.

THEN THEY KNOW THE STEP PROCESS. AND I THINK THAT'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL. YEAH. YEAH.

CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. AND IT'S HARD TO PUT THAT DEFINITIVE TIME FRAME ON EVERY CASE AND SAY YOU HAVE TEN DAYS TO DO THIS.

WHENEVER THE SITUATIONS MAY VARY. I UNDERSTAND.

ALL RIGHT. WOULD THERE BE A TIME DOWN THE ROAD SOMEWHERE WHERE THIS COMMITTEE HAD THE ABILITY TO SET A TIME FRAME AND PUT IT IN FORCE? WOULD WE BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT BY, SAY, THE PLANNING AND ZONING? IF THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, YOU WOULD FOLLOW THE PROCESSES THAT ARE ALREADY DEFINED IN OUR ORDINANCE, AND YOU HAVE SPECIFIC TIME FRAMES THAT ARE GRANTED BY STATE LAW TO FOLLOW FOR THESE PROCESSES.

SO IF SOMEONE COMES BEFORE YOU AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, I NEED 30 DAYS, YOU CAN GRANT THAT, WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT.

AND YOU GIVE THEM 30 DAYS TO DO, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

IT'S ORDERED VACATED UNTIL IT'S TAKEN CARE OF.

AND THEN WE MOVE FROM THERE WHERE IF THEY SAY, I NEED 90 DAYS NOW, THEY NEED A PLAN IN PLACE IN ORDER TO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT PLAN IN ORDER TO CORRECT THEIR SITUATION.

SO CAN I, CAN I SAY SOMETHING HERE THAT COULD BE HELPFUL? SURE. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES.

ONE IS A CRIMINAL PROCESS, IT FALLS UNDER THE CRIMINAL CODE.

AND IT IS THEY HAVE TO HAVE THESE THINGS FOR THE PROPERTY TO LIVE THERE.

AND SO A CITATION COULD BE WRITTEN AT ANY POINT.

THERE'S NO TIME PERIOD. THE CITY HAS TO WAIT BEFORE ISSUING A CITATION.

IF SOMEBODY'S LIVING IN A HABITATION THAT DOESN'T MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SOMEBODY TO LIVE THERE.

WAYNE'S DESCRIBING A SCENARIO WHERE EVEN UNDER THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, THE CITY WOULD NOT ISSUE A CITATION.

THEY WOULD WORK WITH THEM. BUT THAT'S ONE THAT'S ONE SIDE OF IT.

THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, WHICH IS A CIVIL PROCESS.

IT'S IT'S QUASI JUDICIAL. AND SO WHENEVER WAYNE'S TALKING ABOUT THOSE TIMELINES THAT THE CODE PROVIDES, THE STATE LAW, THE 30 DAYS, THE 60 DAYS, THE 90 DAYS, THAT'S UNDER THE BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION PURVIEW TO GRANT THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS.

YEAH. SO I THINK, I THINK IT GOES BACK AND I THINK WE PROVED IT IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

SO IT COULD VARY BASED ON IS THE OWNER WILLING TO WORK WITH US, ARE THEY NOT? YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE ENFORCE? AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I AGREE, SETTING A SPECIFIC DATE WOULDN'T BE PRIVY TO THIS SITUATION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, PAM. SO THE OBJECTIVE TODAY IS JUST, WE'RE JUST READING.

WE'RE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS. WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TODAY.

YOU CAN GO EITHER WAY WITH THAT. WE CAN CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TODAY.

[00:20:06]

OKAY. BUT WE CAN TAKE ACTION IF YOU CAN. IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE YOU CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE THIS ORDINANCE IN PLACE. AND I'M TAKING NOTES ON THE, WHAT THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN.

SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE THINGS, PARTICULARLY THAT YOU RAISED, SAMER, AND JUST REVIEW THE ORDINANCE.

AND IN LIGHT OF THOSE COMMENTS. THANK YOU. WELL, I'M IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEANCE, I'M IN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OR A REVISION TO THE ORDINANCE AS STATED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MOTION WAS FROM SEAN. SEAN, AND SECOND FROM DANNY.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT A CODE REPORT FOR YOU ON SOME OF THE OTHER STRUCTURES.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.

[ITEM 5: Discuss current code enforcement actions and schedules.]

THE PROPERTY OWNER LIVES IN DALLAS. HER SON TRAVELS A LOT, AND SHE'S NEEDING HIM TO BRING HER TO DECATUR TO LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY.

SHE REQUESTED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME ON THAT SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT TO DEMO IT, OR MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO GET IT BACK UP TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

TOLD HER THAT'D BE FINE UNTIL THEY CAN GET UP HERE AND MAKE A GOOD DECISION ON THAT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY COSTLY THING TO GET IT DONE EITHER WAY.

SO WE'LL ALLOW HER A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON THAT.

SAM ASKED A QUESTION. WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THAT PROPERTY WHEN IT WAS BUILT? I MEAN, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE DESIGN. IT USED TO BE APARTMENTS.

THAT LIVED IN THE HOUSE. SHE WOULD RENT THOSE OUT.

OKAY. AND THE INDIVIDUALS LIVE IN THERE, SO THEY'RE REALLY.

THEY JUST HAVE A BED. I THINK, LIKE A PARTIAL KITCHEN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT ONE TIME.

AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT. A WINDOW UNITS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN APARTMENTS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY WOULD NOT MEET THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS.

IT WOULD FALL INTO THAT. RIGHT NOW I THINK THEY'RE LISTED UNDER IT'S UNDER STORAGE.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY'RE DOING. IS THEY GOT SOME THINGS STORED INSIDE THEM, BUT OBVIOUSLY NO UPKEEP ON THEM.

AND THAT PROPERTY ALSO, WE HAVE A PROBLEM KEEPING IT MOLD TOO.

SO YEAH, MAYBE WE CAN GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF SOON.

THANK YOU. THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER ONE IS AT 905 EAST WARD.

WE DISCUSSED THAT AT OUR LAST MEETING. THE HOUSE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

THEY CAME IN AND DID SOME WORK WITHOUT GETTING ANY PERMITS TO TO GET IT STRUCTURALLY SOUND, BECAUSE IT WAS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE, IT WAS KIND OF DANGEROUS.

THEY DID SOME WORK ON IT. WE DROVE BY AND SAW THAT THEY HAD DONE THE WORK.

WE CALLED THEM IN AND HAD A MEETING WITH THEM.

HE AGREED THAT HE WOULD WORK ON GETTING THE PERMITS TO FINISH THE JOB AND TRY TO GET IT TO WHERE IT'S SAFE, AND AGAIN, INSTEAD OF DEMOING IT. BUT THE HOUSE IS GOING TO NEED A LOT OF WORK, SO WE'LL GIVE HIM TIME TO SEE WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO ON THAT AND SEE IF HE'S GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THE PROJECT, OR GO AHEAD AND DEMO IT.

AS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, WHENEVER SOMEONE DOES SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY TO MEET STANDARDS, WE PROVIDE THEM A LIST OF THE PERMITS THAT THEY NEED TO GET OR IS THAT JUST ON THEIR OWN VOLITION? THEY'LL HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FOR ALL THE WORK BEING DONE IN THERE.

AND AFTER THEY GET THE PERMITS, WE'LL HAVE TO GO IN AND INSPECT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UP TO ALL THE CODES SO IT'S SAFE TO MOVE INTO.

BUT THAT'S ON THEIR OWN VOLITION? YES, SIR.

OKAY. THE NEW SUBSTANDARD CASE THAT WE'VE GOT, WE OPENED UP TWO MORE CASES.

THREE MORE CASES ON THAT. IT'S 302 SOUTH LANE.

THIS STRUCTURE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG TIME. EVERY NOW AND THEN, SOMEBODY WOULD DO A LITTLE WORK ON IT, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S STILL IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD CASES WHERE THE WINDOWS WERE BROKE OUT, DOORS WERE UNSECURED.

THEY'VE GOT IT SECURED NOW. BUT THE HOUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

SO THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE. WE, THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY DID COME IN AND TALK TO US.

THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PULL THE PERMITS AND GO AHEAD AND START ON IT.

THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD IT SOLD IS WHY THEY HADN'T DONE ANY WORK ON IT.

THAT DEAL FELL THROUGH. SO NOW THEY'RE WANTING TO REBUILD THE HOUSE AND GET IT BACK UP TO THE CURRENT CODES.

[00:25:02]

I THINK IT MAY HAVE. THAT'S RIGHT. THE HOMEOWNER HERE MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND GOT IT UP TO CODE.

IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE. THE WINDOWS WERE OUT, THEY WERE REPLACING THEM, BUT THEY WERE OUT FOR A WHILE.

A LOT OF PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND ALL, BUT THEY CAME IN AND DID THE WORK AND GOT IT ALL BACK UP TO WHERE IT'S.

IT'S GOOD TO RENT OUT AGAIN. SO THEY MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IT BACK IN SHAPE.

THE NEXT CASE IS THE 502 NORTH NEWARK. THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS RECENTLY FROM IT.

WE DID HAVE A CHURCH THAT CAME IN AND BOARDED IT UP FOR THEM.

IT'S ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE THE GRASS IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY HIGH OVER THERE.

WE HAVE TO CONTACT THEM TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF.

THEY REALLY HADN'T PUT A LOT OF TIME OR EFFORT IN DOING ANYTHING ON THE PROPERTIES JUST SITTING THERE.

IT'S JUST A SHELL OF AN OLD HOUSE. WE TALKED TO THE OWNER ON THAT.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE REACHING OUT TO DEMO COMPANIES TO SEE IF SHE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO DEMO THAT PROPERTY.

SHE KNOWS IT NEEDS TO BE DEMOED. SHE ADMITTED IT.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE ON THAT BEFORE LONG. I GUESS THAT'S ALL.

DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THESE? JUST A GENERAL QUESTION. WHEN HOMEOWNERS DEMO A HOME, I ASSUME THAT THE GAS COMPANY OR ENCORE OR THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, WHATEVER, THAT THEY COME OUT AND VERIFY OFFICIALLY THAT THE UTILITIES HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF SAFELY? YES, SIR. WHAT THEY'LL DO IF THEY FILE FOR A DEMO PERMIT BEFORE THEY CAN START ANY DEMO, THEY HAVE TO GO OUT THE BUILDING, INSPECTORS WILL GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE GAS IS DISCONNECTED, THE POWER IS DISCONNECTED, AND THAT THE SURGE IS BROUGHT ABOVE GRADE AND CAPPED OFF TO KEEP IT SAFE.

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY WHATSOEVER THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE WITH THE ABANDONED RESTAURANT NORTH OF WISE CUSTOM MEATS? RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S SUBSTANDARD.

IT'S VACANT, AND I KNOW THEY GOT UP FOR SALE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S SUBSTANDARD.

SO I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING UNLESS WAYNE'S GOT ANY OTHER IDEAS? ANY. WE CAN, WE CAN DISCUSS IT. BUT WHILE IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LAST TIME I WAS BY THERE, IT DID NOT RECEIVE, WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE.

EVERYTHING WAS IN PLACE. IT WAS STILL MAINTAINED.

HOWEVER, IT'S VACANT. AND SO IT'S NOT ILLEGAL TO TO OWN A VACANT PROPERTY.

AND ANYONE BEEN INSIDE? NO, SIR. WE HAVE HAD SOME REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON IT.

SURE.

I DIDN'T KNOW. IT'S BEEN VACANT EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

YEAH.

LIKE YOU CAN GO IF YOU EVER BEEN THERE. YOU CAN BE ALL THE WAY UNDERNEATH.

THE COOKS USED TO LIVE UNDERNEATH THERE. YEAH.

YOU'VE BEEN THERE, HAVEN'T YOU? YEAH [LAUGHS].

NOT A GOOD THING. YEAH, NOW IT'S DIRTY. I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING GOING ON THERE, BUT YEAH. YEAH. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE INSIDE, JOE? OH. IT'S AWFUL. YEAH. YEAH. HE'S LIKE HE WAS SAYING IT'S UNDERNEATH THERE IS A BASEMENT DEAL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE SPAGHETTI GOING WITH ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING PIPES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN THAT SEWER GOES DOWNHILL AND GOES TO AN INJECTION SYSTEM DOWN THERE BEHIND THE OLD SEAN'S BARBECUE.

WHAT IS IT? EGGPLANT PLACE NOW? WHATEVER THAT PLACE IS.

A WESTERN EGG. WESTERN EGG. THERE YOU GO. THERE'S MY BUDDY OVER THERE ANYWAY.

BUT ANYWAY, HE GOES TO AN INJECTION SYSTEM DOWN THERE, AND ANYWAY.

BUT THAT'S IF YOU EVER HAVE TO GO INSIDE OF IT, IT'S IN BAD SHAPE, BUT YOU CAN'T, THEY CAN'T PENETRATE THAT PROPERTY. NOT LEGALLY. I DON'T THINK THEY GO INSIDE UNLESS THERE'S AN ISSUE.

AND WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A REASON. GET A WARRANT TO GO INTO A PROPERTY.

YES. THEY WOULD NEED AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE.

I THINK IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME AS WE GROW AND DEVELOP THESE BUILDINGS.

PROPERTIES WILL BE BOUGHT AND EITHER REDEVELOPED OR RE OR DEMOED AND SORRY YOU COULDN'T RENOVATE.

NO. I THINK IT'S LIKE JOE KNOWS. IT'S, I THINK IT NEEDS SOME WORK, BUT IT COULD BE DONE.

YEAH. IS IT EYESORE? YEAH, BUT IS IT A CODE VIOLATION? THINGS LIKE THAT. LIKE, I THINK WAYNE SAID IT WOULD BE HARD TO.

[00:30:04]

I MEAN, WE'VE CLEANED UP A COUPLE OF THEM.

YOU GO IN THERE AND JUST CLEAN THEM UP AND BRING STUFF UP TO CODE, AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY NICE WHEN THEY GET DONE.

A GOOD EXAMPLE. THAT'S A WESTERN EGG. IT WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE AND THEY BROUGHT IT UP AND MADE IT SAFE.

AND THEIR BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY DOING REALLY WELL OVER THERE.

SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT. YEAH. THANKS FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

NO, SIR. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, NEW AND FUTURE BUSINESS FOR OUR OCTOBER 20TH MEETING.

[ITEM 6: New and/or future business items.]

AND ANYTHING ANY ACTIONS THAT WE COME UP WITH, WE'LL BRING IT BEFORE THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO TO HELP MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.

YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS? I WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 4:01 P.M..

THANK YOU EVERYBODY. GOOD JOB.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.