Franklin board reduces fines for North Morton Street property to $1,300 after tenant appeal

The Board of Public Works and Safety voted May 4 to reduce code fines assessed against the property at 2662 North Morton Street from $17,500 to $1,300.

Planning Director Joanna Tennell told the board that the original fines totaled $17,500 but many violations were weather-dependent and the owner or tenant had since removed the vehicles. "Originally, the fines were assessed at $17,500. He has moved all the vehicles," Tennell said, and recommended reducing the charge to reflect only parking-related violations that could have been corrected regardless of weather, an amount she identified as $1,300.

Tenant Zaid told the board he had been moving vehicles while Duke Energy replaced power lines and that work limited safe parking options. "They were replacing the power lines ... I kept moving the cars from place to another place," Zaid said, asking the board for "a little courtesy" while explaining he had recently opened a business at the site.

Board members discussed due process and previous warnings about junkyards in the city. One member noted that while the tenant moved vehicles after notice, prior problems and repeat noncompliance have posed enforcement challenges. After discussion the board approved a motion to revise the fines to $1,300 for the April 1–13 period; a board member clarified that this action "is no waiver of any future violations."

The board’s vote closed the matter for now; the record shows the board handled the reduction as a one-time revision tied to the documented period when vehicles were present on the grass. No other penalties were rescinded and the board emphasized compliance going forward.