Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Massey Hearing Jones Estate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Magistrate holds fines in abeyance for Jones estate, sets Jan. 22 review
Summary
Facing a running balance of about $19,020 for code violations, the Lily M. Jones Estate was granted a temporary hold on fines pending property compliance; the special magistrate scheduled a Jan. 22 review to consider any reduction if staff verifies remediation.
The special magistrate on Nov. 19 reviewed a Massey hearing for 3005 Dunbar Street (Lily M. Jones Estate), where the city documented ongoing violations relating to roofing, drainage and outside storage and cited a balance of roughly $19,020 that continued to accrue.
City staff submitted before-and-after photographs and the administrative-cost estimator and explained that the violations were identified earlier in 2024 with fines initiated after an affidavit of noncompliance. The estate's representative and an adult family member described partial cleanup and painting but acknowledged that significant repairs remained outstanding.
At the hearing the property representative explained financial and health constraints; the owner/representative said recent work included painting and some lawn care but that larger repairs require time and funds. The representative said, "I can't just pay for all the stuff, and I don't have the proper papers under my name where I can borrow money" (Property owner/representative, speaker 10). Staff advised that under current practice reductions to a final fine cannot be granted while fines are accruing but offered to hold fines in abeyance if the property is brought into compliance and to return the matter to full review for possible reduction.
The magistrate accepted that approach and ordered the fines to be held in abeyance pending compliance; the matter was scheduled for follow-up review on Jan. 22, 2025. If the property is brought into compliance before that date, the property owner was instructed to notify code-enforcement staff so inspectors can verify remediation and the magistrate can consider any request for reduction. The magistrate reminded parties there is a 30-day right to appeal the order.
Next steps: the owner or representative should notify Miss Kirkland (city code-enforcement staff) when the property is in compliance so staff can perform an inspection before the Jan. 22 review.
