Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Homeowners urge city action after recurring trash, vermin complaints at nearby apartment complex
Summary
Residents from Westfair Court asked the council to compel off‑site management and regular trash pickup at Hawthorne Gates apartments, citing piles of garbage, pests and a lack of on‑site management; the mayor and staff said enforcement tools are limited by state law and that the property is in court.
Residents from a homeowners association near Hawthorne Gates apartments urged the Sandy Springs City Council to force regular trash removal and to identify out‑of‑state owners after reporting persistent trash, vermin and an apparently closed on‑site management office.
Faith Benda, speaking on behalf of her homeowners association, said the pool is not operating, the management office is closed, trash is piling up near the tennis courts, bags are overflowing and rats have become a health hazard. Benda said the property’s management appears to be out of Dallas and that ownership may be held by a pension plan in Ontario; she asked whether the city could compel regular pickup until the problem is resolved and requested notice when a court date dealing with the property occurs so neighbors can attend.
Mayor Rusty Paul and other staff told residents the city has cited the property and that a legal case is pending. Paul said the city attorney and the solicitor have been working on the matter but that state law limits the city’s ability to require a registry of owners; he said the General Assembly must provide authority for cities to require owner information for out‑of‑state management. Paul added that fines and court actions are among the tools available, but that state limits sometimes make fines a “nuisance” to an owner rather than an effective deterrent.
A city staff member confirmed code enforcement has been working the case, and the mayor said staff and officials would use “every tool at our disposal” to force cleanup and compliance. Benda said trash had been removed the morning after her reports and asked staff to notify neighbors when the court date is set. The city representative gave dates of “20 first, 30 first” and “July” during the exchange; staff later confirmed a court presence was scheduled and said they would notify interested neighbors.
Council members and staff did not propose new local ordinances at Tuesday’s meeting. Mayor Paul said he plans to use neighbor photographs and the case when the city’s delegation returns to the General Assembly to press for a law requiring an owner registry for rental properties.
The complaint highlights ongoing enforcement challenges when property owners and managers are located out of state and when state law limits municipal powers to obtain ownership information.
