WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — The city Downtown Vitality Task Force meeting was held Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the city administration building.
Rick Brown, code enforcement officer, presented a draft letter that can be sent to downtown businesses when a violation of a historic business district building maintenance code has been found, such as broken windows, doors, and general disrepair of the premises. A building owner would be given 60 days to correct or repair said violation prior to a fine being imposed by the city.
Brown also reported on the current violations found on Court, Main, and Fayette streets. The most notable was 105 E. Court St. with a missing window and a boarded up window. The owner is Mysa Real Estate Group and no one from that business has been located. Building officer Rod Bryant has requested a lien search from the city attorney’s office.
It was noted that there is a potential buyer for the former First Federal Bank building, however, the owner is still living in Israel and is reluctant to sell or come to the United States to handle this business matter. The city is seeking a marketing strategy or real estate plan from the owner through a representative.
The task force is looking at a potential change to the city signage ordinance with Historic District Review Board criteria regarding temporary and permanent building signage. A draft will be prepared and recommendations made to city council soon.
The downtown business revitalization organization Small Nation will visit Washington Court House on Friday, Aug. 16, and take a tour of certain downtown businesses and vacant buildings, and give city officials a report on how the city can make improvements to blighted areas.
City Manager Joe Denen presented a draft outline of a potential ordinance that will be studied regarding a program for identifying and registering vacant buildings within the downtown area. It can be used to protect and preserve commercial areas from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance and security. The presence of vacant buildings can lead to public safety issues, economic decline, public nuisances, and more.
A vacant building owner would have to register said building with the fire department. Any out of county/state owner would have to designate an authorized agent to receive all notices of violations of city codes. Upon registration, the owner would need to file a vacant building plan with the fire department regarding items such as security of the structure, a procedure that will be used to maintain the property, rehab plans or plans for sale or compliance with all city codes. Inspections of vacant properties will be conducted by the code enforcement officer and the fire department. Failures to comply with this ordinance would result in the city imposing fines upon the owner.
