City of Franklin to solicit demolition bids, imposes $500 fine for 1115 Camp Leices; owner says he cannot pay

On May 21, 2025, at an unsafe-building hearing, the City of Franklin authorized staff to begin soliciting bids to remove the unsafe structure at 1115 Camp Leices and imposed a $500 fine on the property owner, while noting the city could pursue remedies including placing a lien or forcing sale if costs are incurred and unpaid.

Clay Folkerson, building official with the Department of Planning and Engineering for the City of Franklin, told the hearing the city had not received an update from the owner after prior extensions and recommended the city begin pulling bids to handle demolition. Folkerson said the city also requested a $5,000 fine, telling the hearing, "We would also request a fine on top of that, of, I guess, dollars 5,000. That's max. That's max, yeah."

Homeowner Bridal Berger said he had cleaned out debris where he could but could not remove items behind boarded doors, and he said he could not afford demolition. "Yeah, I just don't have the money right now to get it done," Berger told the hearing. Berger said selling the property was a possible last option.

The hearing officer authorized the city to solicit bids and to track costs itemized for potential charge back to the property; the officer also imposed a $500 fine. The officer warned that additional fines and costs could follow if the owner fails to cooperate and that remedies could include a lien or forced sale.

The officer reset the matter for review at the July 16, 2025 hearing. The transcript records no formal roll-call vote; the authorization and fine were issued by the hearing officer during the proceeding.