Council pauses property-maintenance overhaul, schedules work session after concerns about civil fines

Franklin City Council did not adopt Ordinance 2024-15 as presented and instead voted to schedule a work session to refine the measure. The ordinance proposed changing property-maintenance violations from criminal to civil enforcement, with a proposed penalty of $100 per day up to $4,000 before small-claims remedies and potential tax-collection procedures for unpaid judgments.

Scott Miller, the city's building inspector (introduced to the council), described enforcement challenges with out-of-jurisdiction property owners and said changing to a civil process would allow the city to impose civil fines and pursue small-claims judgments that could then be collected like tax liens. He said 24% of city parcels are owned by out-of-area owners and that staff had issued 31 property-maintenance violations in the prior 12 months, many of which were difficult to serve.

Several councilors raised concerns that applying civil fines universally could disproportionately hurt low-income, owner-occupied households and argued for exemptions or grant assistance. One council member asked for grant options to help residents comply rather than immediately imposing fines. After debate, the council declined to adopt as presented and approved a motion to hold a work session to "massage" the ordinance language and return with protections and options for residents.

The council recorded opposing votes during the initial adoption attempt and then approved the work session motion by voice vote. Staff and the city attorney will refine the ordinance and present revised language at a future workshop.