Leitchfield code enforcement reports trailer removals, discusses fee increases and annual report

Leitchfield code enforcement staff reported at a June meeting that an unsafe trailer known as the “Sunbeam Trailer” has been removed and that staff expect several other nuisance properties to be cleared within weeks. The group also discussed raising the fee schedule for abatement work and agreed staff will draft a proposed adjustment for review.

The update matters because staff said repeat abatement work—particularly mowing—ties up city crews and can cost the city time and equipment when owners allow yards to grow. Code enforcement staff said some property owners find it cheaper to let the city mow and pay the charge than to maintain yards themselves.

During the meeting, staff said the Sunbeam trailer “is now gone” and described the removal as a response to a growing public-safety hazard. Staff identified one property at 205 Junction Street (the Jimmy Winch property) as requiring roughly two trailer loads of debris; they said that clean-up should be complete within about two weeks. Staff also noted an address, 908 Carson Drive, as likely abandoned but said they have been unable to locate the owner of record through deed searches and public-record lookups.

Staff estimated there are about four properties they believe to be abandoned and several additional vacant properties. They said many properties are under property-preservation programs managed by financial institutions and that those firms often post notices on doors and hire preservation contractors who can be contacted. Code enforcement staff estimated the local program has been active for about three to four years and said a yearly report would be a useful marker of accomplishments; staff agreed to prepare an annual summary of abatements, demolitions and related work for the council.

The group reported that the city council reinstated the demolition program for another year; staff presented that as already approved by the council. Separately, staff proposed reviewing the city’s fines and equipment charges for abatement—saying the current fine structure (described at the meeting as roughly a three-tier scheme: about $10, then $25, then $50 for repeat violations) plus a modest equipment/charge schedule sometimes leaves owners paying roughly $400 a year to have large properties tended, which staff said can create a perverse incentive to let the city maintain yards. Staff said they will consult with Arlene and Dalton and check Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) limits before proposing any increases to fines or equipment charges.

Officials clarified how the city determines whether a property is vacant or abandoned: signs include overgrown grass and general exterior neglect, followed by attempts to contact the owner of record and checks for door postings from property-preservation companies. Staff said in some cases property owners are not readily findable through public-search tools and that the owner-of-record information sometimes shows multiple names; they recommended monitoring those properties and pursuing contact attempts where practicable.

Board business at the meeting included formal approval of the minutes from the June 10 meeting and a motion to adjourn; both motions passed by voice vote. Staff also discussed operational details for abatement: smaller mowing tasks are done by the city mowing crew when time allows, while properties needing a tractor and bush hog require more specialized equipment and scheduling.

Members asked whether the city should receive reports more frequently than annually; staff suggested an annual package would be appropriate but said some properties take several months to resolve. Staff pledged to prepare and deliver the annual summary at the next scheduled meeting.

The meeting closed after the chair entertained and received a motion and second to adjourn.