Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Unsafe Structures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff say two unsafe-structure properties remain unresolved; one owner given two-week window to record easement
Summary
Area Plan staff updated commissioners on two longstanding unsafe-structure properties: an Antioch property whose owner filed bankruptcy but reportedly obtained a septic permit, and a 1300 East property whose owner says an easement agreement is pending.
Area Plan staff updated Clinton County commissioners on two long-running unsafe-structure cases at the Oct. 21 meeting and asked how the board wanted to proceed.
Liz Stitzel, an Area Plan official, told commissioners the Antioch property owner submitted a large bankruptcy filing listing multiple properties and has, according to staff, pulled a septic permit. "They did send us a copy of that, and have noted that they have managed to get approval from ... their financing to try to address the septic ... and, as of, I don't know, Bridal, maybe, I Nash had emailed us and let us know they have pulled a septic permit," Stitzel said. She said fines for the property have been placed as liens except for the most recent fine, which remains in the office and has not been filed as a tax lien.
Stitzel said staff believe the owner received notices and that pulling a permit is a step toward compliance, but stressed that permit issuance alone does not equal final compliance. She asked commissioners whether they wanted staff to hold the unfiled fine in the office while the county monitors progress; commissioners agreed to hold the fine and revisit the matter after Nov. 15.
Newton property on 1300 East
Stitzel also updated the board on a property on 1300 East owned by Trent Newton that previously received a six-month extension. Staff said Newton called earlier that morning and reported a neighbor had agreed to grant an easement for a perimeter drain but that no written easement had been recorded. "So we could give him till our next meeting to get the easement paperwork in," Stitzel told the board; commissioners agreed to return the item in two weeks and instructed staff to file the unpaid fine as a tax lien if no recordation materialized.
Trent Newton addressed the board and said he has been working to rehabilitate the property and is prepared to pay fines if necessary. "I purchased that property to rehabilitate... I'd be prepared to pay that fine today," Newton said. He described interactions with neighboring property owners and said the septic had been signed off by the health department and tied to a registered county tile.
What the board directed
Commissioners instructed staff to: - Hold the Antioch property's most recent fine in the office and bring the item back for discussion after Nov. 15 to see whether the owner achieves full compliance; the board said it expects the septic work to be done this fall if the owner seeks relief on fines. - Bring the 1300 East (Trent Newton) matter back in two weeks if the recorded easement paperwork is not provided; staff will either accept recorded easement and resolve the fine or file the unpaid fine as a tax lien per the board's direction.
Quotes
"They did send us a copy of that, and have noted that they have managed to get approval ... and ... they have pulled a septic permit," Liz Stitzel said about the Antioch property owner.
"I purchased that property to rehabilitate... I'd be prepared to pay that fine today," Trent Newton said.
Ending
Area Plan staff will monitor both properties and return them to the commissioners for further action if compliance steps are not completed within the intervals the board set (two weeks for the Newton easement; after Nov. 15 for the Antioch property).
