Town council prepares to levy fines for unsafe buildings

PHIL CAMPBELL — Town officials will begin preparing the paperwork needed to levy fines for a group of dilapidated buildings after negotiations with the owner have not produced a settlement.

Mayor Greg Williams told councilmembers during their Aug. 18 meeting that property owner Don Cartee had returned his call after several attempts to reach him and said he wanted to resolve the matter.

The mayor and councilmembers have discussed purchasing the buildings so they could pursue grants to help pay for their demolition. The town has offered Cartee $20,000 but he is asking for $47,000.

The council adopted a new buildings ordinance in March, establishing procedures for inspections, notices, hearings and enforcement involving unsafe structures. The ordinance allows fines of up to $500 per offense with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense.

Williams said Police Chief Jessica Clements would begin preparing the paperwork required to begin levying fines.

In other business councilmembers: Williams said the town had received three quote options: (1) buying new John Deere 310 at $136,000 with a 12-month warranty; (2) buying a new larger John Deere 320 costing from $146,000 to $148,000; purchasing a used John Deere 310 costing from $60,000 to $68,000.

Councilmembers discussed financing terms ranging from 36 to 84 months, settling upon at least 60 months.

Town Clerk and Magistrate Virginia Burks said she was waiting to get a rate from a financing company the town has used previously for vehicles.

Council member Billy Burks raised the issue after firefighters questioned whether they should be paid when 911 pages them to medical calls. Burks said firefighters do not control when 911 dispatches them. He also noted that several members served with both the fire department and rescue squad.

Burks said the town should establish checks and balances to prevent an individual serving on both emergency service organizations from receiving fire department compensation when responding in the capacity of the rescue squad.

Fire Chief Andy Marbutt said existing run sheets show who responds, what vehicle they use, and in what capacity they serve. He said a dual member who responds in the rescue squad truck is not paid by the fire department for that call.

Volunteer firefighter Eddie Marbutt said medical calls can require more responders than initially expected.

“You need everybody you can get, and you don’t know that until you get there,” he said.

Marbutt also said firefighters had previously been paid for medical calls but later stopped receiving payment for them.

Burks said his concern was not that current members were misusing the system but that safeguards should be in place for the future.

Marbutt said vehicles have been parking in the designated landing area, which can force responders to move vehicles or use grassy portions of the property when helicopters arrive.

“It creates a hazard for us trying to land helicopters there,” Marbutt said.

Councilmembers discussed installing two or three signs identifying the property as an emergency landing zone and warning that unauthorized vehicles could be towed. No formal vote was taken.

Councilmembers said Green would need to remain flexible if the center was needed for other special events.

They said no stage could be set up, equipment would have to be removed after each event, and Green would be responsible for cleaning the facility afterward.

Inman said 87 respondents supported the idea and 11 opposed it. Suggested uses included classes for Zumba, dancing, chair aerobics and game nights.

“I’d like to go forward with yet one more survey with more details involved, bring it back to the council,” Inman said.

Williams said he had spoken with Ryan Hayse, who told him Phil Campbell had gone through two rounds of awards without being selected.

One more round is expected in September. If the town is not selected then, Williams said Hayse recommended reapplying when applications reopen in December.

Williams said Hayse reported about $15 million in available funding compared with roughly $90 million in application requests last year.