Town passes rule for safebuildings
A new town ordinance will assist the Russellville Town Council with making buildings safe once again for inhabitants.
Council President Sally McAfee presented Ordinance 2007-1, an ordinance providing for the inspection, repair, or removal of unsafe buildings within the town, to the rest of the council members during Tuesday's meeting. This ordinance was created by Putnam County Planning Director Kim Hyten.
According to the ordinance, an "unsafe building means any building or structure which has any or all of the conditions or defects hereinafter described, provided that such conditions or defects exist to the extent that life, health, property, or safety of the public or its occupants are endangered."
McAfee said within the ordinance, the council must establish the unsafe building law for the town under Indiana Code 36-7-9.
The ordinance states that "all buildings or portions thereof within the County of Putnam which are determined after inspection by the Building Commissioner to be unsafe as defined in this ordinance are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal."
The ordinance also provides an description of what is considered an unsafe building under Indiana Code 36-7-9-4. One description of how a building or structure can be considered unsafe is "whenever the building or structure, or any portion thereof, because of (1) dilapidation, deterioration, or decay; (2) faulty construction; (3) the removal, movement, or instability or any portion of the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting such building; (4) the deterioration, decay, or inadequacy of its foundation; or (5) any other cause, is likely to partially or completely collapse."
McAfee said that the ordinance would cover the hotel and the two buildings next to the town hall on Harrison Street. McAfee was reminded that the hotel was going up for auction at the sheriff's sale.
"We need this," McAfee said.
The council approved the ordinance.
The council also discussed the date and time of the regular monthly meetings in the town hall. Some council members had scheduling conflicts and were unable to keep the meeting date to the second Thursday of the month.
The council decided to go with the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
In other business, the council:
Varvel also said he had found all the equipment to upgrade the computer system. This should make the system a lot more dependable, and Varvel believes the price, $1,800, is quite reasonable. The council approved the purchasing of computerized upgrade.
The next regular meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the town hall. The meeting is open to the public.