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Council grants limited extension to owner of dilapidated property, sets strict deadlines
Summary
The council denied Danny L. Blackwood—s appeal of a hearing examiner abatement order but instead granted a limited extension with staged deadlines to secure and remediate the property at 1032 Southwest Oak Avenue; if conditions are not met, staff may proceed with abatement.
The Bartlesville City Council on July 7 denied an appeal of the hearing examiner—s abatement order for 1032 Southwest Oak Avenue but instead approved a staged extension that gives the property owner time to secure and repair the structure.
Code enforcement staff told the council the house and storm shelter at the property were unsecured, showed extensive deterioration and had no active water service since 2011. Hearing-examiner orders required boarding and securing within 10 days and demolition/removal within 30 days; the property owner, Danny L. Blackwood, appealed and said injuries, health and recent storm damage limited his ability to work on the house. He said he is negotiating a sale and that some locks and fixtures had been repeatedly removed by trespassers.
Council action: After discussion the council modified the hearing-examiner outcome and approved an extension with conditions: 1) the storm shelter must be secured within three days to staff standards; 2) the entire structure must be boarded and secured to staff specifications within 30 days; and 3) the owner has a total of 60 days to show significant remediation progress toward the list of required repairs; failure to meet those requirements will allow the city to proceed with abatement or demolition without further council action. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all council members present voting in favor.
Why it matters: Staff said the property presents public-safety hazards, has a long history of neglect including repeated trespass and theft, and has produced multiple complaints from neighbors. The council—s staged approach was framed as an attempt to balance enforcement with an opportunity for remediation by the owner.
Quotes and context: "If this property were to sell, whoever takes ownership will take on the liens and the hearing-examiner terminations," said Larry Curtis, city code enforcement. Owner Danny L. Blackwood told the council he is a retired construction worker and veteran recovering from hip surgery and that he believes the house is repairable; he said he will attempt to complete repairs or finalize the sale.
Procedural note: The hearing-examiner proceeding had been held May 14; staff said notices and the abatement order had been mailed and posted and that the owner did not attend the hearing. Council members asked staff to hand-deliver or otherwise ensure the owner receives written instructions and the remediation checklist.
Ending: The council—s conditional extension gives the owner short-term deadlines on securing the property and a limited window to pursue repairs; staff will verify compliance and may abate the nuisance if the terms are not met.
