The Richmond City Commission adopted an ordinance Tuesday night creating a legal framework for the city to condemn and demolish vacant housing structures deemed to be blighted and deteriorated.
The ordinance authorizes the appointment of a five-member Vacant Property Review Commission to evaluate buildings brought to its attention by the city’s codes enforcement director.
Prior to review by the commission, owners are to be notified of city code violations and given time to bring property into compliance.
If corrective action is not taken, the commission may notify the owner of the city’s intent to condemn the property and again list the correction action required to avoid condemnation. If unacceptable conditions remain 90 after the notice, condemnation procedures may begin.
Just the appearance of blighted and deteriorated buildings can reduce the value of adjacent property, according to the ordinance. Such structures can be an “attractive nuisance” and safety hazard for children, attract vermin such as rodents, increase the danger of fires and fall into use by criminals.
Circuit court action would determine compensation for the owners of condemned property.
The city commission also moved to change the composition of its Advisory Board for Police Community Relations.
The nine-member panel will now have one member, instead of two, representing the fields of social services, corrections, education or related field. The number of at-large members from the community was increased from three to four. One of the at-large members is to be a “youth 17 years of age or older.”
The commission also includes a member from the legal profession, one from the human relations/resources field and two sworn officers (one detective, one patrol). The police chief and city manager are ex officio members.
The commission approved the appointment Catherine Eaves to replace Robert Sadler as the board’s police patrol representative.
A payment of $476,458 to D.W. Wilburn, contractor for the city’s family aquatic center, was approved. Only one more major payment is due on the project which is substantially complete, said City Manager David Evans.
City officials walked through the facility Thursday to check a list of specifications. The $5.4-million-center in the Lake Reba Recreational Complex is set to open Memorial Day weekend 2008.
Payment of $267,482 to the Allen Co. for work performed on the construction of a $1.4 million road in the industrial park was approved.
The commission heard first reading of an ordinance expressing its intent to annex, at owner Mike Land’s request, property adjacent to the city that was formerly used by Hillcrest Garden Center. If approved on second reading, the request will go to the planning commission for a zoning recommendation.
Second reading of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation, with a zoning or R-1a, of a 0.45-acre lot at 1265 Barnes Mill Road owned by Maxine Seyfrit, was approved.
First reading of building plan review fees was heard. The city current charges of flat fee of $70 for the reviews, regardless of a building’s size, said Joe Lillis, codes enforcement director. If adopted, future fees would be based on square footage.
The commission approved the retirement, after 20 years of service, of Assistant Fire Chief Pearl Cowan. Commissioner Bill Strong said he would like to see current members of department be considered for Cowan’s replacement, which was once customary. “I am a great believer in growing your own,” said Mayor Pro Tem Robert Blythe, who presided in place of Mayor Connie Lawson, who was the only member absent.
As members made comments prior to adjournment, Commissioner Mike Brewer expressed displeasure regarding payment of $17,000 to a Lawrenceburg firm for work on emergency lights, sirens and mobile data terminals in city police cruisers. Such work was previously done by a local business also used by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, the Madison County Emergency Medical Service and the Berea Police Department, he said.
While the out-of-town vendor may do the work more quickly, Brewer said he wished the city would patronize local vendors.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
Local News
Condemn and demolish
Richmond creating panel to review vacant housing
- Local News
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Trash piling up at mobile home park
Uncollected household waste at a mobile home park on Big Hill Avenue in Richmond will draw a notice of violation from the Madison County Health Department and is prompting the city to clean up the site on its own.
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Realities of prescription pill abuse spark another summit
Prescription drug abuse has become so prevalent in parts of Kentucky, people are buying Mason jars of clean urine at flea markets and under the table at tobacco stores so they can pass drug tests.
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Tackling childhood obesity
NFL football player and former University of Kentucky running back Artose Pinner autographed lunch bags, footballs, notebook paper and anything Glenn Marshall elementary students could find (including arms and hands) during his visit Thursday to kick off the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) grant program.
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Police charge two with making meth
A traffic stop late Tuesday evening ended in two arrests for manufacturing methamphetamine.
A Richmond Police officer working traffic enforcement on the Robert R. Martin Bypass stopped a vehicle at about 11:50 p.m. for a traffic offense. The officer discovered several methamphetamine precursors and paraphernalia in the vehicle that police say were tied to one of the passengers in the vehicle, Curment Nicholas Carpenter, 40, of Lexington Road. -
Man pleads guilty to driving to Richmond for sex with girl
(Editor’s note: This story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
An Indiana man will serve at least 10 years in prison for traveling to Richmond to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington. -
Berea Arena Theater presents: Kitchen Witches
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and Feb. 10-11, and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 at 1835 Big Hill Road (KY 21) in Berea. Call 986-9039 for tickets, $8 for adults and $5 for students/children.
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A toe to spare
Pigs usually have four toes on a foot, but not always, Leland “Bud” Bennett of Whitlock Road, said he learned this week.
While preparing the head and feet of a pig to make souse meat, Bennett said he made a surprising discovery after removing two of the toes.
When he went to cut off the next two, there were three. A smaller, third toe was higher up the leg.
“I’m 84, and I’d never seen a pig’s foot with five toes,” he said.
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Model Laboratory’s annual Lunar New Year Celebration
Model Laboratory third-graders Olivia Florell, left, and Katie Upchurch, inside a paper dragon, wait Wednesday morning with their classmates in the school hallway for the start of the annual Lunar New Year Celebration parade. The students created the dragon after learning about Asian
calligraphy in art class and walked with the dragon, while playing instruments and clapping, to the end of the hall in front of classmates in pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade who have also been studying aspects of Asian culture. The parade is intended to bring good luck and friendship to the school for the new year, the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, said art teacher Denise Discepoli. -
Teacher turned award-winning author to read at Richmond Area Arts Council tonight
Because Rebecca D. Elswick won publication of her debut novel, “Mama’s Shoes,” in a national contest, it might be easy to view her as a kind of literary American Idol.
But, unlike many of the precocious American Idol winners, Elswick toiled and studied her craft for years before achieving success. Now, the accolades are accumulating, and each honor further confirms her status as one of the hottest emerging authors in the South.
She will read and sign books tonight along with Lexington author George Ella Lyon at the Richmond Area Arts Council, 399 W. Water St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. -
Project Read helps students turn the page
Steve Hupp likes solving problems, and at 27 years old, he has seen more than his fair share. Hupp has been in and out of hospitals since childhood, making it difficult for him to focus on school. To make it worse, he also is dyslexic.
Hupp dropped out of school in the 11th grade.
“Some places wouldn’t even give me an application,” he said about his search for a job. “I had doors close on me. I even had girlfriends break up with me.” - More Local News Headlines
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