Officials work to remove abandoned structures

Russellville officials are working to clear condemned homes throughout the city and to clean the city’s appearance.

Russellville Building, License and Zoning Official Bill Fuller has been working with the fire and street departments to tear down or burn condemned homes throughout the city.

Fuller said property owners are notified and given the opportunity to make repairs to structures so they can be brought up to the city’s current codes.

“The property owners give us consent to move ahead with removing the structures or we go through the due process,” Fuller said.

During that time, property owners are given a written notice and they have 30 days to respond to the city’s letter.

They can then purchase a building permit to make repairs to the structure or tear it down or the city moves forward with an eventual abatement of nuisance.

The zoning office and fire department burned an old abandoned house on Gravel Hill Road this week and plan to remove more abandoned structures in the coming weeks.

It also serves as a training opportunity for the fire department, Fuller said.

According to documents, the office has demolished and removed 66 structures since 2006.

“The structure nuisance abatement is a never ending process, but we are still working to get rid of as many abandoned structures as we need to for the city to be safe and clean,” Fuller said.

In addition to selling and maintaining city business licenses, Fuller said the office is also responsible for getting inspections completed so that businesses can open in a timely manner, producing tax revenue for the city.