Booneville council gives owner 7 days to get permits, 30 days to fix dangerous Third Street buildings

The Booneville City Council on Aug. 4 directed the owner of two properties on Third Street to secure building permits within seven days and begin immediate remediation within 30 days after city inspectors found continuing dangerous conditions. Brad (Staff member) presented the recommendation after a follow-up inspection by building inspector Steve Hague and review with city administrator Kate Piel, saying the council had already given a deadline of Aug. 1 based on findings entered April 21 and that some required work remained unfinished. The council’s action matters because the properties — listed in the city’s findings and order as dangerous — present a potential public-safety risk and carry limits on how long repairs may be deferred under the city’s dangerous‑building procedures. Brad told the council that if the owner did not meet the deadlines the city would have authority to raze the properties. Brad recommended that owner Chris Coleman be allowed seven calendar days from the meeting date to obtain building permits from city services and that work to stabilize and abate the dangerous conditions begin immediately, with a written report to building inspector Steve Hague within 30 days. The findings of fact and conclusions of law entered April 21 remain in effect, Brad said. Coleman, who said he is living in 810 Third Street, confirmed he has been making repairs and described work he has completed at 806, including reframing and roof work, while acknowledging that exterior issues remain. Steve Hague told the council the inspector’s July 30 notes showed that at 810 Third Street six required items had not been completed; the report indicated zero of six were completed at that date. By contrast, council staff said 806 had progress on five of five listed items. Brad and Hague stressed that the ordinance requires repairs to continue “without unnecessary delay” and that obtaining a building permit — which is valid for six months — would protect the owner so long as work continues to the inspector’s satisfaction. Brad said the city had communicated to Coleman’s attorney that failure to comply could lead to enforcement beginning Aug. 2 and that the council was giving one final opportunity to avoid formal action. The council voted to accept the staff recommendation. The roll call recorded unanimous approval; the city clerk recorded the vote as all yes. No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; the action was a council direction tied to the existing order and inspection record. The council’s next steps will be administrative enforcement if Coleman does not secure permits and demonstrate progress on the specified dangerous conditions within the timeframes set at the Aug. 4 meeting.