Split decision grants extension to 3-year-old cleanup order

ROACHDALE -- In a boardroom that saw differing opinions Tuesday, a 2-1 decision came to the benefit of a property that has seen more than three years of ordinance violations, cleanup orders, unsafe building orders and, more recently, a warning that a bid had been accepted to finally forgo the owner’s absence and raze the premises.

Property owner Steve Keck, who made a rare appearance at the Roachdale Town Council’s June public session in response to multiple letters sent by town attorney David Peebles, had not been present since to refute long-standing claims made by council members and residents alike that animals, an unkempt lawn, a blighted appearance and crumbling infrastructure were reportedly continuing to lower neighboring property values while providing an unsafe building for curious children and a refuge for undesirables.

However, after a September decision to accept a bid from a nearby demolition company and a subsequent letter, Keck attended the council’s October session Tuesday to report on minor improvements and request an extension of one year to replace the siding of the building, located at 405 E. Washington St., citing winter and other responsibilities.

“I’ve got the animals out and (the holes in the foundation) blocked off (so) they can’t get under it anymore and I’ve started my insulation,” Keck said, followed by a request from the board for a completion date. “Me and a friend was talking about (how) it’ll be a year.”

Board President Zach Bowers, who has served as a councilman for multiple years and has witnessed the lack of improvement for some time, was not pleased with the estimate.

“I think that’s way too long,” Bowers said. “We’ve been dealing with this property since 2013, and I know you’ve only had it since 2015 ... but my concern here is that, now that we’ve finally put in front of you that we have a bid and we’re going to tear this house down, now you want a whole other year for us to deal with it.

“I don’t think that’s smart on our part.”

Councilwoman Holly Cook and Councilman Kevin Cook (no relation) inquired to Keck as to why it would take a year’s time to complete the lone task of siding the building. Understanding that winter is upcoming, the pair’s leniency was counteracted by Keck’s admission that he had obtained the siding more than four months prior, which he failed to report in June.

“Our other concern with actually putting (demolition) out to bid last month was that we didn’t hear anything from you for three months so, at that point, our only decision was to move forward with what we had put in writing to you,” Bowers said. “If you’ve had the siding for four months, I would have probably mentioned that -- I would have mentioned it if I wanted to save the property.”

Bowers continued in similar rhetoric.

“I think we have to perform due diligence for the remainder of the town and say, ‘we’ve been dealing with this since 2013, another year just doesn’t make any sense,’” Bowers said. “Again, my concern is -- now that we put out there that we want the house gone and we’re going to tear it down -- now you want to do something about it, whereas in other times we’ve brought it up it’s been pushed off and you’ve been given extension after extension and now that it’s time for us to tear it down you want more extensions.

“Frankly, I think we need to be done giving extensions.”

Councilman Cook, who is in his first of a four-year term, had another idea that would allow Keck to deal with winter and his other responsibilities while rejecting a year-long extension.

“This is still the first part of October; there’s a good month that it’ll still be warm enough to side,” Cook said. “Beginning in March, you should be able to side again.

“Including this October, that’d be March (through) October of next year, so you’re saying it’ll take nine months to side a house?” Cook asked. “That seems like a long time.”

Despite calls for demolition by the President Bowers, Councilwoman Cook and Councilman Cook motioned for and seconded, respectively, an extension until April 15 to finish the siding on the structure while continuing to improve the property in ways previously discussed.

The motion for an extension of six months was approved via 2-1 vote with Bowers opposed.

Separately, another problematic property, located at 110 W. Railroad St. and owned by Jack and Linda Simpson, was discussed after having received no word from the owners in response to an ordinance-violation letter sent last month. A $25 fine, in addition to a previous $25 fine, was motioned for and approved via 3-0 vote.

In other business:

• Brent Burdine, speaking on behalf of Jerry Burdine, requested that Jerry be allowed to place a new mobile home on his property during the removal process of his older mobile home. The request will need to be formally requested at the next Planning Commission meeting, set for Nov. 8, but the board went ahead with the approval via 3-0 vote.

• An update on the Wastewater System Rehabilitation Project was given. Few issues were reported. Water line repairs have been made, blowers will be delivered next week and electrical systems are ready to be installed. The update included an estimated completion date of three months.

• A low bid from Infrastructure Systems was accepted for the amount of $1,078,376 for the Storm Water Grant.

• The board received a bid for the Roachdale Police Department’s recently decommissioned personal police vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, after posting the vehicle last month for sale. The high bid of $4,501 was accepted from Scott Tuttle, of Michigan.

• Town Superintendent Troy Elless updated the board on the town’s water tower, which has been recently repainted (inside and out). Elless also reported that, thanks to waterline flushing Oct. 12-13, water quality should improve; various road signs, such as speed limit signs and stop signs, have been replaced; new fire hydrants have been received and will be installed soon; new water meters are being situated; and Town Marshal Mike Mahoy has begun taking Operator Quality tests for utility work/certification.

• Clerk-treasurer Debbie Sillery reported that the software update and training for Keystone Billing is now complete, saying “we are now live and (October) is the last month (residents) will get their original cards, next month they’ll see the new billing cards.”

• Trick-or-treat hours for Roachdale will be 6-8 p.m Halloween night (Oct. 31).

The next regular public session for the town of Roachdale will be Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.