Jackson council declares 312 Third Street a nuisance after code enforcement says voluntary efforts exhausted

The Town Council of the Town of Jackson unanimously voted Nov. 18 to declare 312 Third Street a nuisance property after a Code Enforcement update that said voluntary compliance efforts had been exhausted.

Code Enforcement Officer Jennifer McCracken told the council she reviewed the timeline of contacts and attempted communications with the property owner and said certified letters had been signed acknowledging receipt by the listed owner. "All available avenues to obtain voluntary compliance have been exhausted," McCracken said, and she asked the council to declare the property a nuisance under town ordinances to permit further enforcement action.

Councilmember G. Clayton Holley moved to declare 312 Third St. a nuisance property; Councilmember Todd Etheredge seconded. The council voted unanimously to adopt the declaration. The minutes record the vote as unanimous; individual roll-call votes were not included in the meeting text.

The special called meeting began at 5:00 p.m. and first approved the agenda after a motion by Councilmember Kenneth Teuton, seconded by Councilmember Holley. Mayor Gurney C. Wiggins Jr. adjourned the meeting at 5:21 p.m. Councilmember Rosalyn C. Greene was noted as absent.

The council’s declaration cites enforcement authority in town ordinances, but the meeting record does not specify the immediate next enforcement steps, penalties, or a timeline for action. The council did not record further discussion of remediation, demolition, fines, or liens in the minutes provided.

The action will allow town staff to pursue whatever procedures are set out under the town’s nuisance ordinances; the meeting minutes do not state which specific ordinance section will be used or when any formal enforcement action will be taken.