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Sweetwater orders repair or demolition of three dilapidated properties
Summary
The Sweetwater City Council declared three properties dilapidated on May 12, ordering repair, rehabilitation, or demolition: 1906 Douglas (35 days), 1511 Crane (extended to 60 days at the owner’s request), and an accessory structure at 302 Buoie (35 days). Staff cited public-safety and neighborhood impacts.
The Sweetwater City Council voted May 12 to declare three properties dilapidated and ordered repair, rehabilitation, or demolition after public hearings in which staff described structural and safety risks.
Brad Grizzle, a city code enforcement officer who testified under oath, told the council that the trailer at 1906 Douglas Street had missing walls, exposed wiring and extensive debris that, even after recent city cleanup efforts, left the structure unsafe and a magnet for criminal activity. "The back wall of the residence is missing," Grizzle said, describing exposed wiring and conditions that posed a fire hazard. Staff recommended moving forward with a declaration so the city could mitigate the site.
Property owner Justin Rule acknowledged prior city contact and said he had arranged some hauling help and expected to "progressively" clean up the property within about a month, but he also said some repairs to the structure would require permits and work beyond informal cleanup. Neighbors told the council they had seen repeated criminal activity and people coming and going from the property. After closing the public hearing, the council voted to order repair, rehabilitation, or demolition of 1906 Douglas Street within 35 days.
On the second property — identified in the hearing as 1511 Crane Street (portions of the transcript separately reference the address as "511 Crane" — see clarifying note below) — staff said a fire had destroyed much of the interior and displaced residents. The property owner or representative requested 60 days to obtain contractor estimates and insurance information; the council agreed to extend the usual 35-day compliance window to 60 days and ordered repair, rehabilitation, or demolition within that timeframe.
The council also ordered removal or repair of an accessory structure at 302 Buoie Street after staff described an unpermitted shed built on the property line that had repeatedly required cleanups and functioned as a hiding spot for transient camping. The motion ordered remediation within 35 days.
Council members voted by voice on each motion; the record shows the motions carried. City staff noted that, if work is performed by the city, a lien will be placed on the property for demolition or remediation costs. The council closed each public hearing before taking formal action.
Clarifying note: the transcript used both "1511 Crane" and "511 Crane" in different places; the council’s initial reference identified the parcel as 1511 Crane. The council’s orders set the compliance timeframes above and authorize the city to proceed with mitigation steps allowed under local code.
The council’s next procedural steps typically include staff scheduling any city-conducted work, recording a lien for costs if the city removes structures, and sending compliance notices to property owners.
