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Owner asks for time to repair house across from middle school; council tables dilapidated-structure action
Summary
At a public hearing on 307 Canfield Street, owner Jana Hall told council she has begun exterior work and asked for time to rehabilitate; code enforcement and a neighbor cited safety concerns because the property sits across from the middle school. The council tabled action to allow interior inspection and progress reporting.
The Sweetwater City Council opened a public hearing on orders declaring structures at 307 Canfield Street dilapidated and potentially unfit for habitation. Code enforcement described the property as a safety concern due to its location across from the middle school; the city swore in code enforcement witnesses to provide testimony.
Jana Hall, who identified herself as the owner, told the council that since the documentation in the packet she has addressed exterior overgrowth, has purchased lumber to secure broken windows and intends to repaint and repair siding. "We have addressed the overgrowth of the property. We've purchased lumber to secure the windows...and wish to rehabilitate the property," Hall said, and asked the council for time to secure and rehabilitate the house rather than order demolition.
A nearby community member expressed concern about the property's proximity to children and called for security measures to protect the neighborhood. City attorney Samantha Mara questioned whether an open‑ended timeline was appropriate and said it would be reasonable to expect the exterior to be secured promptly. "I think that it would be appropriate to expect the exterior to be fixed within 30 days based on the owner's representation that that's feasible," Mara said, and recommended partnership with code enforcement so staff can inspect progress and assess interior work required for rental or sale.
Council members agreed that allowing code enforcement to inspect the interior and to see demonstrable exterior progress would be appropriate; the council voted to table any final action until the next meeting to give the owner time to work with code and to allow staff an opportunity to inspect the property and report back. The public hearing was closed and the matter was tabled by motion and voice vote.
