01/20/2015 MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015
3:00 P.M.
1. Johnny Norris called the Building and Standards Commission Meeting to order at
3:00 P.M.
Roll was called.
A. The following members were present:
Johnny Norris
Chad Lindsey
Sally McEwin
Ben Vaughn
Chris Brown
B. Staff present:
Robert Talley
Audra Lane
Dale Maberry
Stephanie Harris
Larry Wright
David Whitaker
C. Others present:
Sue Lancaster — City Council member
Tracy Pounders — City Tax Attorney
2. Approval of minutes from previous meetings. (November 17, 2014)
Motion was made by Sally McEwin and seconded by Chris Brown to approve the
minutes for November 17, 2014 meeting.
Motion carried unanimously. 5 -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 ":
Request made by Robert Talley to review Section 4 — Code Enforcement Update
4. Code Enforcement Update
Tracy Pounders, the City of Paris Tax Attorney spoke to the Buildings and Standards
Commission and described the process that is involved in filing court cases and
auctioning off properties for the City. After Mr. Pounders' presentation Robert Talley
stated that in November 2014, 5 structures were demolished and in December 2014, 4
structures were demolished. Mr. Talley also informed the Commission that there was
approximately $34,500 left in the budget and once that money is spent he will go to the
City Council to request more funds.
3. A. 646 SE 8th; City Block 163, Lot 13
Owner: Arthur Drake 646 SE 8th Paris, TX 75460
Back Taxes Owed: $1684.91
Robert Talley stated that this structure was a total burn out and nothing is
salvageable.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Johnny Norris asked if there were any insurance issues in regards to this property
and Dale Maberry stated that the owner did not have insurance.
Motion was made by Chris Brown, seconded by Chad Lindsey to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
B. 756 NW 6th; City Block 88, Lot 26
Owner: Minnie Mason Est C/O Thurman Mason 1237 Bonham St #E Paris, TX
75460
Back Taxes Owed: $3079.11
No contact with owners. The City has torn down two other houses owned by
Thurman Mason and no contact was made for either of those structures.
Robert Talley stated that the structure is unsecure, has lots of junk and rubbish,
the north side has deteriorated wood, the foundation is collapsing, roof has holes
and is buckling, and there are missing windows.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Motion was made by Sally McEwin, seconded by Chris Brown to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
C. 144 NW 13th; City Block 48, Lot 1
Owner: Donald W Calvin 144 NW 13t' Paris, TX 75460
Back Taxes Owed: $3963.93
Owner is deceased. The structure is a barn that was left over from when the house
was demolished. The neighbors had a privacy and chain linked fence on either
side of the barn that kept the City from demolishing it with the house. They have
since put up another fence that is not tied into the barn. The structure is leaning
against a tree, the roof is completely missing on the south side and it is full of
junk and rubbish.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Motion was made by Chad Lindsey, seconded by Sally McEwin to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
D. 360 NW 14th; City Block 230, Lot 4
Owner: Donnetta Gray 360 NW 14t1i Paris, TX 75460
Back Taxes Owed: $1021.81
No Contact with owner
Robert Talley stated that this was a total burn out; the Fire Marshal turned it in.
The structure has no roof and you can see all the way through the house due to the
fire.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Motion was made by Chris Brown, seconded by Chad Lindsey to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
E. 260 NW 27th; Sperry's 3rd Addition, Block 2, Lot 15 -A
Owner: CGC Real Estate Services LLC 110 Spring St NW STE 450 Atlanta, GA
30309
Back Taxes Owed: $9622.07
No Contact with Owner
Robert Talley stated that there are windows open, the house is unsecure,
underpinning is starting to buckle, there is damage to the inside of the house, the
foundation starting to sink, and there is a hole in the roof where a tree fell on it.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Motion was made by Sally McEwin, seconded by Johnny Norris to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
F. 564 NW 7th; Hayes Addition, Block 1, Lot 23
Robert Talley pulled this property due to the property owner being ill. It will be
on next month's agenda.
G. 1523 Bonham; SJ Wright Addition, Block 1, Lot 2 -A
Owner: Mark Martin 1995 30th NW Paris, TX 75460
Back Taxes Owed: $4510.49
No Contact with Owner
Robert Talley stated that there was a major house fire and that the Fire Marshal
placed the orange tag on the house. The windows have been partially boarded up;
the back of the house has foundation damage that is not related to the fire. The
neighbors have mentioned that someone is trying to live in the home.
Robert Talley's recommendation: 30 days to demolish if not the City has the
right to demolish and apply a $1000 per day civil penalty.
Chad Lindsey asked if there needed to be an eviction notice since someone is
squatting at the home. Robert Talley stated that the owner has asked the person to
leave the property that it is going to be demolished.
Motion was made by Chris Brown, seconded by Chad Lindsey to accept
Robert Talley's recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
4. Chad Lindsey and Johnny Norris asked if burn outs were fast tracked on the
demolition list and Robert Talley stated that yes they were due to safety issues.
Johnny Norris asked about the trailer parks by the trail and by Wal -Mart. Mr.
Talley stated that the one by Wal -Mart has shown improvements, which he would
go and inspect it again. The one by the trail is continuing to make progress and
has not brought in any more junk and the dumpster is being emptied regularly.
Johnny Norris also asked about the building on Drive In Road behind the
Chevrolet dealership. Mr. Talley stated that they are almost done with all the
work needed to bring it to the point that it has no more Code Enforcement
violations. It is completely secure and they have gutted and re -done the inside.
They live out of town and can only come in every few months but it is being
maintained.
5. Adjournment
Motion was made by Ben Vaughn, seconded by Chad Lindsey to adjourn the
meeting at 4:OOpm. Motion carried unanimously. 5 -0
APPROVED THIS 16" DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015.
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