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Regular Council Meeting <br />September 9, 2019 <br />Page 3 <br />Mayor Clifford asked Ms. Nicholson to continue where she left off during the citizen's <br />forum. Ms. Nicholson said there had been a large drug bust recently at the American Best Value. <br />She said the fire, police and EMS were routinely at this facility. Ms. Nicholson also said she had <br />provided Council with information about this type program having a lot of success nationwide, <br />as referenced by police, sheriff s offices and property owners. She said when identification and <br />credit cards were not used and patrons could pay cash, is when they had problems with drug use <br />and selling of drugs. <br />Chief Hundley gave statistics of calls received about activity at various local hotels, <br />motels, and extended stay facilities. He said if they moved forward with an ordinance, it was <br />important to educate the businesses and conduct training. Chief Hundley said the City did not <br />have enough staff to enforce an ordinance like Grand Prairie. Council Member Portugal said <br />some of the items were not needed; specifically she referred to inspection of linens and <br />mattresses. Council Member Pilgrim said repeat offenders should definitely be dealt with. <br />Mayor Clifford said he had no problems about the definitions of lighting, thickness of <br />doors but it could get expensive if all units had to be inspected. He also said having this type of <br />program in place might give owners an incentive to keep the crime down. Chief Hundley said <br />this ordinance as written was not for Paris. Mayor Clifford inquired of Chief Hundley as what <br />parts he agreed with and what parts he did not. Chief Hundley said he liked the threshold set out <br />in the ordinance with regard to the ratio of calls, specifically the different tiers. He said some <br />hotels hardly had any calls, while others had a lot. <br />Council Member Knox said she would eventually like to see it expanded to apartment <br />complexes. Ms. Harris suggested they start with hotels and motels. Following additional <br />discussion, it was a consensus of City Council that staff bring back an ordinance for discussion. <br />11. Discuss the status of the private sale of the Belford Apartments and possible action <br />regarding placing it back up for the sheriffs auction, perhaps at a lower amount. <br />Council Member Knox said they had this property up for sale and nobody bid on it. She <br />also said it was her understanding there was a private individual who contacted the owner and <br />was supposedly buying it, but that was not reflected through the Lamar County Appraisal <br />District. Council Member Knox said the place was a mess, had become more overgrown, the <br />boards that were up to stabilize the building had been busted and doors were wide open. Council <br />Member Knox asked the Council if there was something they could do about this. Mayor <br />Clifford said one or two things needed to happen, and that was either it needed to be stabilized <br />and repaired, or torn down. He said it had been dragging on for decades. Council Member <br />Pilgrim inquired about the cost of demolition. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said she had heard <br />it was anywhere from $250,000 to $400,000 to demolish it. Ms. Harris also said the sticking <br />point for the buyer was all civil penalties and the judgment lien be released at closing, and that <br />did not give the City any leverage to get done what needed to get done to that property. Ms. <br />Harris referenced the resolution passed by City Council in March whereby penalties and the <br />judgment would be released only upon demolition or rehabilitation of the property. Mayor <br />Clifford inquired if the new owner could be legally required to put money in escrow to cover <br />