Bluffton council will receive an update on Monday night from Jerry Cupples, Bluffton zoning inspector. His report includes what Cupples terms his successes and failures.
Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, asked Cupples to provide council with the update on his efforts regarding property maintenance issues.
Cupples’s report follows:
TO: Mayor and Council:
As you know, one of my duties is to try to enforce the zoning ordinance as well as ordinance 07/05, the maintenance code for Buildings and Property. Since the first of the year, I have had contact with 10 properties, with some success and some failures.
Successes thus far
• 1 Triplett Drive has cleaned up some parking lots and along the street and alley
• 222 N. Spring has installed windows and doors, will install siding next
• 419 N. Main is now maintaining the property
• 851 State Route 103 has cleaned up some what
• 263 Lawn removed a pile of construction material
• 504 Cherry cleaned up the side yard
• 194 E. Jefferson removed a pile of tires
Failures thus far:
• 808 N. Main no reply from owner
• 721 N. Main a reply but no activity from owner
• 145 Riley Street. Former Mayor Eric Fulcomer and Jamie have been working on this location for several years, (see attached pictures) In addition, a Bluffton couple made an offer to buy the location, to tear it down and build new. The three-unit home has only one occupant and no running water.
There are several windows boarded up, the porch is full of debris and rodents. The yard is full of trash and many feral cats reside nearby. The owner, Elaine Harris, has made excuses and promises for years, always asking for more time.
This week she informed me that she has given the house to her daughter-in-law, who is the resident of the home. This eliminates her responsibility to the Village, and forces us to start over with the notices of violation.
Jerry Cupples
Zoning Inspector
A copy of Monday night's agenda is at attachment at the bottom of this story.
