The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
NUISANCE OR NOT?
Common Council acts on condition of Madison House
ONEIDA, N.Y. » The Oneida Common Council moved forward on removing an old landmark and supporting a new ministry during its recent meeting.
The council voted unanimously to declare the old Madison House, the former restaurant located at 140 Madison St., a public nuisance after an inspection by the city fire marshal.
The council will hold a public hearing on the matter during the June 7 council meeting. The hearing will allow interested parties to state why they feel the property is not a nuisance and allow the city to respond.
Former Oneida Mayor Leo Matzke, who passed in December, had pledged to improve the local business area in 2017. Among his recommendations was a firm stance on nuisance properties. He had led the council in establishing a protocol for handling such properties. This protocol was based on the procedure used in the city of Rome.
The law was passed, in part, to help revitalize Oneida’s downtown business district.
In 2017 Oneida hired a full-time codes enforcement officer to track nuisance properties. That year the city had 22 nuisance, or unkempt and damaged properties, 10 zombie properties (abandoned nuisance properties), and 12 residences in full foreclosure.
The law allows the city to seek a judge’s order to allow city personnel the right to search a nuisance property, including the right to break any locks on
The law allows the city to seek a judge’s order to allow city personnel the right to search a nuisance property, including the right to break any locks on that property.
that property. The city may bill the property owner for their time.
Hearings on a property follow the public discussion. The city has a threemember panel and the codes enforcement, fire, and police chief each appoint a member.
The Madison House was open from 1989 through 2014. In 2017 a local veterans group had considered buying and restoring the property. Their goal was to use the building for housing and job training for veterans. The plans never materialized.
Help for House of Hope The council also voted to reduce the rate of use for House of Hope’s Festival of Trees event from Nov. 17-19. The rental cost will be the not-for-profit rate of $45 per hour.
House of Hope is an outreach of Rahab Rescue Ministries, a non-profit ministry that is being established by former federal treasury agent Christine Carpenter. Carpenter’s goal is the rescue and rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims.
The festival will feature 20 pre-decorated trees which will be available for purchase along with other Christmas decorations and baked goods.
The proceeds will help fund the planned House of Hope. Carpenter plans to find a home in Oneida or somewhere in Madison County that will include five bedrooms, a sixth room for counseling, and enough acreage to help rescued women engage in therapy. This therapy includes horseback riding and general care for horses.
“Rahab Rescue Ministries will combine holistic avenues of healing,” Carpenter said. “They include recovery, counseling, and spiritual help.”
Rahab Rescue is also hosting our 1st golf tournament fundraiser for “House of Hope.” The tournament will be held Saturday, May 21, at the Mcconnellsville Country Club, 3007 Mcconnellsville Rd, Blossvale.
Check-in time is noon and the tee time is one p.m. The $100 price includes 18 holes, a cart, a lunch cooler, and a full Italian buffet dinner at five p.m.
They are also hosting the Refuge Run and Freedom Walk Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. The event will be held at Haselton Wright Park, off of Chestnut St. in Rome. There is a $25 registration fee per adult participant. Each adult participant will either run or walk and acquire at least three sponsors at $25 each.
Children 17 and under can also enter this family event and can raise any amount of funds in sponsorships. There is no registration fee for those 17 and under, when accompanied by a parent.
Prizes will be awarded for the first-place finisher in the 5K Refuge Run and the first-place finisher in the 1.5-mile Freedom Walk. Prizes will also be awarded
to one adult participant and one child 17 and under participant raising the most amount of funds in sponsorship. Each registered participant will receive a free T-shirt, water, and individually wrapped snacks.
Reach out to Bethany@ rahabrefugeministries.com or Christine@rahabrefugeministries.com with questions.
Other Votes
The council also unanimously approved the use of $380,000 towards improvements on the Lake Street pump station. The money had previously been budgeted for the work. They authorized Mayor Helen Acker to sign an agreement with the Oneida Memorial Association to cosponsor the Memorial Day Parade on Friday, May 27. The council also authorized the leasing of a police vehicle. The vehicle will replace a 2016 Ford Fusion.