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Allegan council moves to pursue dangerous‑structure hearings after staff identifies eight properties
Summary
Staff identified eight potentially dangerous or fire-damaged properties and recommended use of the city’s dangerous-structure ordinance and a hearing officer; council signaled consensus to proceed while staff will quantify hearing-officer costs and demolition estimates (~$20,000 each).
City staff told the council that code-enforcement drives and interagency review (police, fire, building official) had identified eight properties that are either unoccupied, fire-damaged or otherwise unsafe. Staff recommended using the city’s dangerous-structure ordinance to pursue hearings and abatement where owners have not made repairs.
Staff estimated a demolition cost in the neighborhood of $20,000 per structure depending on size and complexity, and described barriers to resolving some properties because owners are unreachable, in probate, or are out-of-area landlords. Staff explained that under the city’s existing ordinance the mayor appoints a paid hearing officer with expertise in housing construction matters; that officer would hear the presentation from the building official and advise the council on next steps.
The council discussed procedures, lien and tax-sale consequences for recalcitrant owners, and the administrative cost of hearings. Several council members emphasized trying to work cooperatively with owners first, while others urged decisive enforcement to prevent neighborhood blight. Staff reported prior code-enforcement outreach results — 118 letters sent with 95 properties coming into compliance and 185 long-grass notices with 17 abatements — as context for expanded enforcement efforts.
Council members asked staff to obtain cost estimates for a hearing officer and demolition and to move forward with the dangerous-structure process where appropriate; the meeting record indicates council consensus to proceed.
