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Borger Building Standards Commission orders abatement, defers two property cases and removes one from active list
Summary
At its March 5 meeting the Borger Building Standards Commission approved an abatement order for 707 Moody Street, deferred review of two properties to allow owners or complainants to pursue justice-of-the-peace remedies or cleanup, and removed 134 Airline from its active list. Actions were by voice vote.
The Borger Building Standards Commission on March 5 approved an abatement order for a vacant property and took action on several other property compliance cases.
Code staff told the commission no representative appeared for 707 Moody Street and that the owner’s address is unknown; staff said notices were posted on the property and requested an order to abate the trash and debris. "We're just asking for an order to abate," staff said. The commission moved to abate the property and passed the motion by voice vote.
During public comment the commission heard a resident's complaint about 100 South Harvey, where people occupying the lot have accumulated trash over about nine to ten months. The resident said she lacked funds to file an eviction and that, when she attempted to remove material, police told her she could not move items because they were not hers. Staff advised that removal of occupants requires starting with the local justice of the peace and explained the separate abatement process: if the city cleans the property it will bill the owner for the cleanup and, if unpaid, may place a lien on the property. "If y'all give us the order to abate the property, then there's gonna be a total on the weight that we pick up from there ... she would get a bill for that," staff said. The commission voted to defer review of the 100 South Harvey case for one month to allow the resident to pursue JP options and report back.
Property owner Teska Teralta told the board she has made progress at 1306 Wisconsin Street but that work slowed when her contractor became a caregiver for a sick family member. Staff said remaining trash and debris must be removed before full compliance; the commission agreed to review that case at the next meeting.
At 134 Airline, owner Buddy Woodward said most visible trash outside the fence was addressed and that the fence had been repaired, though debris remained behind the fence and some vehicles were still onsite. Staff said vehicles could be pursued through code enforcement and that a trailer for demolition was scheduled nearby. The commission voted to remove the property from the active agenda/list.
The commission approved the previous meeting's minutes earlier in the session and adjourned after taking the described actions. Next steps specified by the board were review of the deferred matters at the next meeting and the possibility of city-conducted abatements with costs billed to the property owner.
