City staff reports 31 notices under vacant-and-abandoned registry; none have paid fees

Dewey O'Neil, City staff, told the Board of Public Works and Safety on Nov. 18 that the first quarterly report under Madison City’s vacant-and-abandoned-structures registry shows 31 notices have been sent and “none of which have paid a fee to this point.”

The report, required by the registry ordinance, also shows four properties voluntarily registered and 27 sites registered by staff after limited owner response. O'Neil said staff will send additional, nonrequired secondary letters to owners who have not paid and will pursue enforcement options if fees and penalties continue to accrue.

“Per our vacant and abandoned structures registry ordinance, I am here to — it’s a requirement that I report to you on a quarterly basis,” O'Neil said, describing the update as the first formal presentation under the new process. He told the board that many of the properties on the list are downtown addresses and that some owners have been difficult to reach; one property is listed to an out-of-state address.

O'Neil walked the board through before-and-after photos of several properties that had voluntary registrations and said staff will continue weekly contact with cooperative owners. For properties that do not respond, he identified the likely next steps as secondary notices, liens or legal action under the ordinance and said staff will continue to pursue abatements where buildings do not meet minimum standards.

Board members pressed for more outreach and noted the tension between a shortage of housing and the existence of multiple vacant properties. O'Neil acknowledged some property owners have pushed back harshly — “I’ve been asked to leave town,” he said — and told the board enforcement will continue.

The board did not take a formal vote on new enforcement authority during the meeting; O'Neil left the board with a plan to proceed with additional notices and to return as needed with updates.