Sweetwater council declares multiple properties dilapidated, orders repair or demolition within 35 days

The Sweetwater City Council on Aug. 12 held public hearings and issued orders declaring multiple properties within city limits dilapidated or unfit for human habitation and set 35-day deadlines for owners to repair or rehabilitate the structures.

Samantha Morrow (staff member) swore in code-enforcement officers before the hearings. Staff presented histories of notices sent and recommended demolition or abatement where property owners had not responded or taken corrective action. The properties discussed included 609 Oak Street; 2100 Bristol Street; 404 East Twelfth Street; 808 Haskell Street; and 201 Orange Street. For each property the council opened a public hearing, recorded staff testimony about lack of owner response and then voted to issue orders requiring action within 35 days, with authority for repair, rehabilitation or demolition as appropriate.

Nut graf: Each property record in the meeting included the date of initial notice and staff’s recommendation that action proceed because owners failed to respond or remediate. Where staff had made contact, notes in the record documented partial engagement but no completed repairs.

Council approved each declaration on voice votes. The staff presentation indicated that letters had been returned for some properties and that in at least one case an owner had discussed a slow teardown plan but not completed work.

Ending: The council’s orders allow staff to proceed with enforcement steps outlined in city code if owners do not repair or secure properties within the 35-day period; no demolition dates were announced in the meeting record.