Safety, appearance shape cleanup operation
RUSSELLVILLE — City crews have started working through a list of 11 unsightly properties as part of a cleanup and code-compliance effort.
Mayor David Grissom said the project is called “Operation Clean Sweep.”
“It’s not a fast thing. It takes a while,” he said of the cleanup project.
Police Department Compliance Officer Chad Sheffield said the cleanup focuses on inoperable vehicles, cluttered yards and properties where items such as appliances or furniture remain outdoors.
“We’re trying to improve the city and get those types of things cleaned up and get them off the properties to make the town more presentable,” Sheffield said.
He said the starting list includes 11 properties.
“A lot of times those properties are people who inherited them and probably don’t live around here,” he said. “It does take some time to make contact with these people and get the correct paperwork signed.” Most cases never reach the demolition stage, Sheffield said, because property owners typically address problems after the city makes contact. He said he rarely meets resistance.
Sheffield said he usually gives 15 days for nonworking vehicles to be removed and typically about five days for basic cleanup, depending on the situation. He said he extends deadlines when owners show progress.
He said the team sets priorities based on safety, complaints and visibility, especially along main entrances into town.
Fire Marshal Justin Green said the work goes beyond appearances and often centers on hazards inspectors find inside and around buildings. He said overcrowded living spaces and blocked exits create serious dangers, especially at night.
He said inspectors sometimes find exits blocked from the outside, even when the interior looks orderly.
Green said access problems can also slow emergency response efforts. Also, some businesses store materials improperly, which can create fire and environmental risks if containers leak or rupture.
Building Inspector Bill Fuller said he focuses on old structures and houses which are deemed unsafe. When a case reaches the point of formal action, Fuller said the city gives property owners notice and an opportunity to fix issues.
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP
The house at 608 Burgess St. was one of two abandoned houses torn down by the city last week.
If a building is structurally sound, Fuller said owners can apply for a repair permit, but they must show progress within 180 days.
If the councilmembers vote to abate a nuisance and the owner does not act, Fuller said the city can move forward with demolition or cleanup, bill the owner for the cost, and, if necessary, place a lien on the property.
When the city demolishes a structure, the Street Department handles the work. Superintendent Shannon Wilson said his crews provide the labor and they use city equipment to demolish structures and haul away debris.
Sheffield said the city has used grants in the past to cover demolition and cleanup.
Green said some businesses operate under variances which limit how many vehicles they can store on site. City officials are working to bring properties back within those limits.
Instead of being demolished, some abandoned structures can be used for firefighter training. Fire Chief Joe Mansell said strict requirements limit how often that happens.
“For us to be able to burn it, a structure must meet specific requirements,” Mansell said. “The state fire college mandates that. Very few could even be considered for this purpose.”
