Council advances housing‑code fine schedule and shifts administrative appeals to Board of Building Appeals

Struthers City Council reviewed proposed changes to administrative penalties for housing‑code violations and approved moving appeals of administrative citations from city council to the Board of Building Appeals.

During discussion, a council member noted the draft ordinance contained a numeric inconsistency and asked staff to correct it; the draft showed a figure that the council member said should read "$2.50" for a first offense (the clerk and staff agreed to mark and initial the correction during the meeting). Council members also discussed a fine structure that rises for repeat violations and the option to pursue criminal charges for habitual violators if administrative fines fail to correct behavior.

The council then considered an amendment moving appeals from the legislative body to the Board of Building Appeals; a council member summarized the change as "That's just changing the appeals to go from city council to the board of building." Council moved the ordinance forward for consideration and scheduled staff to meet with the city solicitor (John) and code enforcement staff to finalize procedures for citation, appeal, lien recording and collection. A meeting with the city solicitor was scheduled the next day to review procedural implementation.

Council members discussed the process for cutting grass and recording liens with the county, noting the city typically cuts grass twice a year (first and last six months) and that the county recording process affects whether the city recovers mowing costs when a property sells. Staff said they receive routine inquiries from title companies and will examine whether the city’s lien recording cadence could be adjusted to better protect the city’s reimbursement for abated maintenance costs.