GLORIA BAILEY, a resident, told the City Council she lives at 809 North State Street and urged officials to inspect an 11-story, 157-unit building she described as hazardous and inaccessible for people with mobility challenges. "I live at 809 North State Street," Bailey said during the council's public-comment period, and listed peeling paint that may be lead-based, long elevator outages and recurring smoke‑alarm problems.

The council also heard from Tony Little, who identified himself as owner of Blossom Apartments, which experienced a water outage this month. Little said the property has faced ongoing infrastructure problems since a high‑pressure water line burst about 15 months ago and pointed to billing anomalies for a Flow IQ 20 meter: "At the center of every single controversy with the water system is this Flow IQ 20 water meter," he told the council, adding that one bill showed an "egregious" reading he said was far beyond the meter's capacity.

Mayor Joseph Horn and other city officials described immediate and planned actions. The city said Blossom residents without vouchers were being relocated, that Jackson Water restored service for some buildings, and that the fire department and Council members had assisted with bottled water and outreach. Horn told the council the administration will create a task force of city staff, housing advocates and outside specialists to identify the city's most delinquent property owners and consider enforcement options. "We are going to publish the list of the top 15 bad actors who are in arrears of at least $100,000 in their water bills," the mayor said, and the city will explore civil and criminal penalties and legislative remedies.

Why it matters: Council members and speakers framed the problems as immediate public‑health and access issues for elderly and mobility‑impaired residents, and as part of a wider pattern involving out‑of‑state owners, shell companies and properties falling into disrepair. Council members pressed administration to share a list of affected properties and to coordinate relocation and code enforcement so tenants are not left without water or safe access.

What the council did and directed: The council discussed but did not adopt new legislation during the meeting. The administration said it will assemble the task force, publish the list of property owners and convene follow‑up meetings with council members and neighborhood representatives. Staff identified next steps: expand inspections, coordinate with housing authorities for placements, and explore legal remedies to enforce repairs and recover water and code enforcement costs.

Context and background: Speakers and the mayor referenced multiple apartment properties, including Blossom Apartments and 809 North State Street. Council members said similar problems have arisen at other complexes and asked administration to create a proactive plan so the city does not learn about widespread housing failures only through media reports or court hearings.

What to watch next: The administration said it will release the task force membership and the list of priority properties; council members asked that the list and any recommended ordinances or penalties be circulated well in advance of the next council meeting so members can review and question the approach.