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Resident tells council of leaking, electrical problems and possible mold at Lakeview Palms; council promises follow-up and cites new minimum-housing standards
Summary
A Lakeview Palms tenant described rain inside her apartment, electrical hazards and a grease fire; council members pledged follow-up, discussed inspection authority and cited recently adopted minimum housing standards and possible fines.
A Port Arthur tenant told the City Council on Feb. 24 she has faced what she described as prolonged and dangerous housing conditions at Lakeview Palms, including water intrusion, electrical problems, a grease fire and possible mold.
Chellemagne Cohee, who identified her address in public comment, said she had emailed multiple housing staff and filed complaints without durable responses. She described two days of rain inside her apartment that left floors buckling, repeated blinking lights and an incident involving a grease fire on the stove. "That's life threatening to me," she told the council.
Council members asked for Cohee's contact information and said they would follow up directly. Councilmember Ken Law and others said the council and city attorney have been "putting some teeth" into enforcement and urged staff to engage with property owners. The mayor and city manager said that a recently-adopted minimum housing standards ordinance gives the city clearer enforcement authority, including fines from $250 to $2,000 per day for violations.
City staff and the health/environmental director clarified the inspection process: the health department responds to complaints and will investigate conditions that pose health risks, but it is not a certified mold inspector and cannot unilaterally revoke a certificate of occupancy. The city can, however, remove a certificate of occupancy where a structure becomes unsafe, after appropriate process and owner notification.
Council asked staff to collect owner information and to coordinate inspections and enforcement under the new minimum housing standards; staff also said they would publish guidance so residents know how to register complaints and what to expect from inspections.
Next steps: Council members and staff asked Cohee to provide contact information so staff could arrange an inspection and contact the owner. Council said it will pursue enforcement if inspections confirm code violations.
