News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Livingston advisory committee on Monday found 11 locations to be in violation of the city’s property maintenance code.
Property Maintenance Advisory Committee Chairman Barbie Roberts said at least one property threatens public safety.
“This was our first slum clearance complaint tonight with the old co-op building. Some of these buildings are dangerous and that is a dangerous one,” Roberts said. “It has a roof caving in and a lot of broken glass, nails, and boards. It’s a safety factor because kids walk past there all the time going to the park. It needs to be cleaned up because the whole neighborhood needs to know that it’s safe.”
At least seven properties failed to comply with the code by having overgrown yards and vegetation. Others violated the city’s ordinance pertaining to abandoned or junked vehicles.
Roberts said property owners have a set timeline to address the complaints, but an appeal process will be allowed.
“The appeals process if different depending on the code,” Roberts said. “The property owner would need to talk to the codes administrator because it may go to the board of aldermen or it may go to a judge.”
The town began enforcing the codes earlier this year as an effort to help clean up and better maintain Livingston. Roberts said she hopes more citizens will become aware of the rules.
“If they do those things they won’t be cited, and if they’re cited they can still clean it up and it won’t go this far,” Roberts said. “It just mainly to clean up the town and the neighborhoods.”
The Property Maintenance Advisory Committee will meet again on September 23 at 5:30 p.m.
