07/17/2017 MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION
MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017
3:30 P.M.
1. Johnny Norris called the Building and Standards Commission Meeting to order at
3:30 P.M.
Roll was called.
A. The following members were present:
Matthew Allen
Sally McEwin
Johnny Norris
Ben Vaughan
Charles Richards
Mike Folmar
Ken Kohls
B. Staff present:
Robert Talley
Larry Wright
Stephanie Harris
Debra Burge
C. Others present:
Sue Lancaster
Curtis Harris
Willie Baker
2. Approval of minutes from previous meeting. (June 19, 2017)
Motion made by Ben Vaughan, seconded by Sally McEwin to approve minutes.
Motion carried unanimously. 7 -0
3. Public Hearing to consider presentations by City of Paris Code Inspectors and
owner(s) and/or lien holder(s) of the below properties who have been given notice of
a violation of Article III of Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris,
Paris, Texas, entitled "Substandard and Dangerous Buildings and Structures;"
Article II of Chapter 17, entitled "Control of Weeds, Junk, and Other
Objectionable, Unsightly, or Unsanitary Matter of Private Premises;" Chapter 1 -6
of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Paris, TX:
A. 1480 Hickory; East Park Addition Block M, Lot 5
Owner: Curtis Harris, 1480 Hickory, Paris TX 75460
Robert Talley stated owner is present. Junk and rubbish removal, not demo.
Door; lawnmower; basket; banner; parts; broken chairs; trainer and trash cans full
of rubbish; broken furniture; appliances; old plywood/lumber; tires; overgrown
lawn mowers; generator; front, side and back yards. Old truck, past registration,
back filled with rubbish. Clean-up is in progress.
Robert Talley's recommendation: Declare a nuisance, remove junk and
rubbish within 30 days, or city has right to do so.
Curtis Harris, 1480 Hickory. Would like an extension to complete clean-up.
30 days will be sufficient.
Willie Baker, 1710 10th NE. Mr. Harris has people helping him to clean up
property and mow and weed eat. 30 days should be done.
Motion was made by Sally McEwin, seconded by Ben Vaughan to accept
Robert's recommendation. Motion carried. 7 -0
B. 1860 E. Polk; City Block 253, Lot 8
Owner: Eugenia Moore, 1860 E. Polk, Paris TX 75460
Robert Talley stated junk and rubbish case; not asking for demo of house. Nicki
Brown has been to this property numerous times, has a court case filed against it.
Robert Talley has been to property to issue ticket with law enforcement; appeared
occupants were home, but could not get anyone to come to the door. Front yard
has large amount of litter and rubbish all over yard. Photo of law enforcement
on porch, trying to get occupants to come to door. Illegal fence in front yard
with large amount of litter, junk, and rubbish behind it. Both sides of house
almost solid with rubbish and junk. Back yard full of litter, trash, rubbish.
Carport area full of junk and rubbish. Animal Control has been called because
chickens are loose in backyard, not 50 feet from adjacent property as required.
Also have rabbits in back yard in penned area.
Robert Talley's recommendation: Declare nuisance, remove junk and
rubbish with 30 days, or city has right to do so.
Commission questions.
Q — Explain status; tickets and court case.
A — If resident doesn't obey orders, we can take them to court or write a ticket.
We took to court because we couldn't get anyone to answer the door in order to
issue a ticket.
Q — What is the court case?
A — Refusal to remove rubbish.
Q — Do we have to physically hand them a ticket, or can we mail it to them
certified?
A — That's considered a summons. If you can't make contact to issue a ticket,
you file the case in court and that issues a summons for them to appear. A case
has been filed, so the summons has been sent. We don't know if they signed for
it or if it was returned unclaimed.
Q — Just because they get a court date doesn't mean they'll clean it up?
A — Correct.
Q — The orders BSC issues are separate and concurrent with any court orders?
A — Correct. Same as demo orders.
Q — What happens to the stuff?
A — Goes in the landfill.
Q — What happens to the animals?
A — Not sure; that's up to Animal Control.
Q — Who's responsible; tenants or owner?
A — Both; letters get sent to both.
Motion made by Ben Vaughan, seconded by Mike Folmar to accept Robert's
recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 7 -0
C. 400 NE 12th; City Block 70 -C, Lot 5
Owner: Melissa Boles, no mailing address listed; notice published in Paris
News and mailed to 400 NE 12th.
Robert Talley stated received numerous complaints this structure is unsecure,
people going in and out. Couple of neighbors were excited it was being tagged.
Stated no one has lived there for several years. Asked about items inside; they
said from various squatters. Various furniture inside, old mattresses, clothing;
no water or electric to the house. Taxes are delinquent; no mailing address on
record for owner. Back room of house shows evidence of roof separating from
house. Leak in roof; sagging; front door open; back yard visible through back
wall inside house. Fire hazard.
Robert Talley's recommendation: Declare nuisance; demo within 30 days,
or city has right to do so.
Commission questions.
Q — Is this one we can move up?
A — I'm sure we can.
Motion made by Johnny Norris, seconded by Sally McEwin to accept
Robert's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 7 -0
D. 604 SE 12th; Block 113 -A, Lot 12 & PT 13
Owner: Mrs. William Roach, 604 SE 12th, Paris TX 75460
Robert Talley stated no contact with property owner. Caught fire Nov 2016.
Total burn out. All of roof is collapsed in. Unsecure.
Robert Talley's recommendation: Declare nuisance, demo within 30 days,
or city has right to do so.
Motion was made by Charles Richards, seconded by Sally McEwin to accept
Robert's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 7 -0
4. Code Enforcement update.
4 structures demoed. All moved up. Also moved up 1 more.
Annual demo budget was $100,000. To date we've spent $91,273, leaving $8,727 until
end of fiscal year, end of September.
Q - Do we have an idea what it would cost to clean up rubbish on 2 properties presented
here?
A - A little less than a demo, depending on if we send city employees or have a
contractor do it that charges by tonnage.
Q - Does clean-up of junk and rubbish come out of demo budget?
A - Yes. When the current budget was set, we did not have the ordinance for junk and
rubbish.
Q - What does abatement cost come out oV
A - Demo budget. We have house demo and sanitation fees in that budget. $60,000 in
demo and $40,000 in sanitation, which also covers abatement crew taking trash to the
dump.
Q - Status of West Sherman?
A - Nothing has been done. Orders expire end of this month. That will be a large
expense, so I'll have to get funds allocated by City Manager. We will salvage what we
can to recoup some of the expense.
Q - Culverts?
A - Have been sold.
Q - Do we need to ask City Council for more funding?
A - That will be up to the City Manager. But acquiring more funding has not been an
issue in the past. Demo and clean-up has always been a top priority with the council.
Q - Status of Mr. Preston's property presented last month?
A - There is progress being made.
5. Future agenda items.
Re -elect officers next 1 -2 months.
6. Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ben Vaughan, seconded by Charles Richards to adjourn the
meeting at 4:14 pm. Motion carried unanimously. 7 -0
APPROVED THIS 21 st DAY OF AUGUST, 2017. 0- ., W,
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