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Board finds 102 N. O'Neil unsafe; gives owner 48 hours to respond or city will abate
Summary
The enforcement board declared the vacant structure at 102 North O'Neil unsafe, accepted testimony that the building had extensive interior and exterior damage, and gave the owner 48 hours to return a consent form or the city will abate the property.
The City of Hopkinsville Code of Ordinance Enforcement Board on May 13 voted to declare the vacant structure at 102 North O'Neil an unsafe structure and set a penalty phase requiring a monetary fine and administrative fee, with the city prepared to abate if the owner does not respond.
Mark DeArmond, code enforcement officer with the Hopkinsville Fire Department codes office, told the board the property, case number CEBPM25-04-002, was inspected after a complaint and that staff found substantial interior and exterior violations. DeArmond said exterior porches and roof areas showed rot and holes, windows were plywood-covered in places, there was a tree limb that had fallen through the roof, ceilings and floors showed water damage and collapsing sections, and interior utility, plumbing and electrical items failed inspection. DeArmond reported interior violations rated 9 of 9 applicable items and overall 15 of 17 items (88%) unsafe.
DeArmond said city records showed the owner had minimal city-tax payments and that water had been off for about a year and a half and electricity for about nine months. He testified that the owner had contacted staff and, during the hearing period, had asked that the city be authorized to demolish the structure; DeArmond said staff had emailed a consent-release form and was awaiting its return.
After discussion, the board voted to declare the property unsafe. In the penalty phase the board noted a staff-cited fine range of $350 to $700 plus a $200 administrative fee and voted to impose the minimum monetary penalty in that range together with the $200 administrative fee. The board gave the owner 48 hours to return the consent form to code staff; if the owner does not do so the board directed staff to abate the property immediately.
DeArmond told the board he had offered to meet the owner at Community Development Services to review financing and a timeline if the owner sought to restore the building. The board’s written order will spell out the developer/owner obligations and the appeal process under Chapter 33 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances.
