Friday, May 13, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Brown wants to raze damaged house By JOHN MUNFORD Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown wants the city to demolish a house ravaged by fire in December 2003 that has never been repaired. Brown has asked the citys building official to begin proceedings so the city can demolish the house because it is a public nuisance as defined in city ordinances. The home could attract rats, roaches and other vermin in addition to providing a place for illegal activity such as drug sales to be conducted, Brown said Monday. Carty confirmed Wednesday that he is looking into the matter. According to city ordinance, he or another city official can cause a citation to be issued, which would set up a court hearing. It is unclear if it must be held in the citys municipal court, but at the hearing, the presiding judge can order the homeowner to repair or demolish the building, the ordinance states. If the homeowner fails to do so, the city can proceed with the demolition or repair work and file a lien against the property to recover the cost once the property is sold. The city has gone out of its way to work with the property owner and the mortgage company to see that the house is properly repaired, but those repairs havent taken place, Brown said. The house was being rented out when the fire occurred, Brown added. If the city chooses to demolish the house, it can take out fixtures and sell them to help pay for the demolition, Brown noted.
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