5 properties are designated nuisance
RUSSELLVILLE — Five properties within the city have been designated public nuisances, and city workers soon will begin tearing down a burnedout partial structure on one lot and two structures on another lot.
The city council authorized the five nuisance abatements during a meeting called July 2.
The properties are at 705 Hawkins Circle, 608 Burgess, 406 Hall Avenue, 177 Highsmith Court and an unspecified White Street address.
City clerk Belinda Miller said 705 Hawkins Circle is an overgrown lot with a burned house on the property. She said the city now has permission to cut the yard and tear down the house.
City building inspector Bill Fuller said the house burned about a year and a half ago, leaving portions of the brick and foundation. He said he condemned the property after being unable to get a response from the owner.
Fuller said the city will tear down what remains of the structure and bill the owner for the work.
Miller said the White Street parcel contains two structures that will be torn down with the owner’s permission.
Miller said the properties at 608 Burgess, 406 Hall Avenue and 177 Highsmith Court are overgrown lots.
Fuller said the building department handles unsafe structures. He said the process begins when he decides a structure is unsafe and sends the property owner a certified letter.
He said the owner has 30 days after signing the certified letter to respond to the city. During that time, the owner may choose to repair or demolish the structure.
Fuller said he takes the matter before the city council for a vote if the owner does not respond or address the problem within those 30 days.
He said the street department demolishes any unsafe structures and removes the debris once the council authorizes an abatement. The property owner is then billed for the work.
Fuller said abatements involving overgrown vegetation, trash and garbage are handled through the police department.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said once the department receives a report, compliance officers check the situation. Hargett said if a property is in need of having grass cut, the officer makes contact and gives them a compliance form.
“This gives them five days to clean up the property,” Hargett said. “If the property is not cleaned up in the five days, a citation is issued to the owner.”
Hargett said if the property is not cleaned up in the five days, the owner is issued a citation.
“Once it goes through the court process, we start the abatement process,” Hargett said. “The city abates the property and then cleans it up and a lien is placed on the property.”
Hargett said if a property owner needs more time, the compliance officer can allow more time.
Miller said nuisance abatements are generally handled as quickly as possible. She said fees are calculated based on employee costs, hours and equipment used based on Federal Emergency Management Agency rates.
