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Dillon seeks county building-inspector help for derelict buildings; supervisors approve inspection request
Summary
Town of Dillon representatives asked the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors to authorize County building inspector to inspect potentially unsafe vacant commercial buildings under a state derelict-buildings program; the board approved a request that County inspector Ranson visit sites and report back.
Town of Dillon officials asked the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors to help identify and inspect derelict commercial buildings and to allow County building inspector Ranson to perform site inspections under a state derelict-buildings program.
A presenter from Dillon said the state program has two components, including safety-focused inspections and a registry/fee structure for owners who do not take corrective action. The presenter described the program as a tool to address vacant commercial properties and to help an economic revitalization effort in the town. "We have a lot of empty buildings in the town. We want to develop an economic committee to try to help fill those buildings. But we need to know that they're safe," the presenter said.
The presenter and Mayor Moss said Dillon would coordinate with property owners and arrange inspection visits; County building inspector Ranson would conduct the inspection and advise whether a building was unsafe. The presenter described a registry fee schedule discussed earlier by staff: an initial registry fee of $200 and, if owners fail to act, a $500 per month fee. The presenter said inspectors would initially give about 30 days to obtain permits or to begin repairs before fines—or placement on the registry—would apply.
Board members asked clarifying questions about who would notify owners, who would schedule inspections, and how many properties the town anticipated referring. Town representatives said most vacant buildings appeared safe; they estimated fewer than five properties likely to require inspection at this stage. A supervisor moved that the board ask Mr. Ranson to make inspections when requested by the Town of Dillon; a second was recorded and the board approved the request by voice vote.
Board members and town officials emphasized the county's role would be limited to providing the inspector's time and opinion; the town would lead owner outreach and subsequent actions. "All the dealings with the people that own the buildings would come from us. The only thing we really need Mr. Ranson to do is...walk through the building and tell us what we need to know," a town representative said.
The motion was approved at the meeting by voice vote. Town officials thanked the board before moving on to public comments.
