City continues efforts to force derelict property owners into building code compliance

The LaFayette City Council during its June 21 meeting received an update on revitalization efforts concerning blighted properties.

Council member Ben Bradford said three properties were demolished and cleared by owners within the last month.

Currently, 16 properties are actively being improved by cleanup and/or demolishing efforts.

Half are being cleaned up or torn down; half are in the process of being repaired and improved by their owners.

Two properties were recently brought before a judge, and five other properties are slated for court action and judgment.

Property owners of three other properties worked with the city’s codes department to correct problems and avoided being cited to court.

“We have been doing this, I guess, pretty much all year. This is month six talking about revitalization. Things are going right along,” Bradford said.

“We obviously want to resolve these without having to go to court. The vast majority of them do, but two properties chose not to voluntarily get in compliance and instead went to city court yesterday. One of the properties, the judge gave them, I believe, until Friday to get water connected at the property, or said he would take further action. I’m not sure what that is. And the other property, the judge gave them 30 days to become compliant. But, basically, the bottom line is, the city, once they go to court, it is up to the city court to enforce our codes and I can only report what happens there,” Bradford said.

Bradford said he would have a new update for the July council meeting.

During an earlier council meeting he said no one intends to take a yard stick and measure how the grass is — the city is concerned with safety.

“We have got a population of children under the age of 16 that walk places,” Bradford said. “When you have burned-out structures or structures that are falling in — properties that have dangerous equipment sitting out that is not maintained or watched — it is just a safety hazard for kids and anyone else walking through.”