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Newberry staff seeks direction to formalize nuisance‑abatement process; CRA funding in use for small projects
Summary
City staff presented a proposal Feb. 23 to consolidate nuisance definitions, create an abatement process and identify funding; the CRA currently budgets about $10,000 a year and has paid for several small abatement projects, but staff asked commissioners for direction on policy and broader funding.
City of Newberry code‑enforcement and community development staff on Feb. 23 asked the commission for direction to create a formal nuisance‑abatement process to address hazardous structures, dead trees, junk and excessive property growth across the city.
Greta Moreau, code enforcement, described the existing complaint‑driven process: staff first visually verifies a complaint, issues a courtesy notice (typically giving about 30 days to comply), follows with a notice of violation if needed (another 30 days), and can then move to magistrate hearings, fines and liens for noncompliance. She said that process commonly consumes three months or more of staff time and that the city has completed several abatement projects in partnership with the CRA and volunteers.
Lauren Yetter (community development) and other staff noted the CRA has budgeted roughly $10,000 per year for abatement and recent projects cost about $3,500 (trailer demolition), $3,800 (tree removal) and $4,200 (multiple trees). Staff said volunteer and partner support (for example, local volunteers and the Lions Club) lowered gross costs on those projects.
City staff asked whether the commission wants a citywide abatement policy and, if so, how to fund it and whether to prioritize homesteaded vs. non‑homesteaded properties or occupied vs. unoccupied parcels. Manager and finance staff said the initial work would require upfront outlays and recoveries through liens are possible but not guaranteed.
Commissioners asked staff to draft an abatement policy and, if appropriate, to include budget proposals during the next budget season. Staff said they are preparing a CRA abatement policy and will bring a draft to the CRA board first, then to the commission.
Quote from staff: "Anytime I receive a complaint, first thing... I go out and I have to put eyes on that complaint," Moreau said, describing timelines, notices and magistrate procedures. The commission signaled support for a multifaceted approach — different processes and funding inside and outside the CRA — and stressed consistent application and lien authority when the city covers abatement costs.
Next steps: staff will return with proposed abatement policy language, cost estimates, and recommendations about CRA use and other funding mechanisms for commission consideration in budget planning.
