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Safford council affirms abatement assessment after owner appeals certified notices
Summary
After hearing from the property owner and city staff, the Safford City Council affirmed the abatement assessment for a Central Avenue lot, finding certified notices were sent and the contractor completed required cleanup; the owner disputed notice timing and ownership of vehicles on the lot.
The Safford City Council on March 10 heard an appeal from the owner/agent of a Graham County parcel (425 Central Ave, parcel 10222-173B) challenging an abatement assessment after city-conducted cleanup.
The owner said his crew routinely cleaned the lot twice a year and contested the dates and some evidence presented; he also said vehicles on the lot were not his and questioned why he should pay for third-party vehicles. City staff and the neighborhood officer presented dated photographs, described certified-mail notices sent to the owner of record and explained that the city follows code provisions that make a property owner or person in control responsible for maintaining premises free of litter regardless of who physically owns items left on the site.
City Attorney Bill Sims told the council the appeal at this meeting could address only the amount of the assessment in the verified statement and that other procedural defenses should have been raised at an earlier stage in the abatement process. The neighborhood officer confirmed multiple certified mailings were signed for and that contractor work was completed under the city's abatement procedures.
After receiving testimony from the property representative and city staff, council members moved and the council affirmed the amount of the assessment as contained in the verified statement, leaving the city’s abatement charges in place. Staff indicated the city typically files a lien on the property to recover abatement costs if the bill is unpaid.
