ROGERS -- The City Council approved removing a private structure during its meeting Tuesday.
It's the second time in recent months the council has approved removing a structure in the city. The approval follows recent code changes that have legally strengthened the process for a removing a building, Chris Griffin, staff attorney, previously said.
Mayor Greg Hines said removing dilapidated structures is a step toward cleaning up the city.
"When we went through the downtown revitalization we heard loud and clear that residents wanted the city cleaned up," Hines said.
A collapsed roof and holes in exterior walls are some of the damage noted in city documents for the structure at 211 N. Sixth St.
Few homes have been removed since the city was sued in federal court by a homeowner in 2006. Nancy Duvall won a $50,000 settlement from the suit. The court said Duvall wasn't properly notified.
The recent code changes require property owners be notified by the city before removal proceedings start, Griffin said. He said the property owners will have 14 days to respond to the city or make changes to the property.
If this doesn't happen, Griffin said. The city's legal department will again notify property owners via certified and regular mail. The letters will notify the owners of a City Council meeting when the property will be discussed. The property owners are allowed to speak at the meeting.
Property owners will then have 30 days to make changes to the property if the council votes to remove the structure. If changes haven't been made the structure will be removed on the 31st day. A lien for the cost of removing the structure will be placed on the property.
"We are going above and beyond what is the legal necessity," Hines said.
Ordinances to remove two more structures were withdrawn from the agenda at the meeting.
Fire Department Battalion Chief Travis Hollis said the property owners were able to rectify issues with the structures before the meeting.
Both homes were damaged by fire about a decade ago, Hollis said. He said property owners starting taking steps to fix the problems after notified about the City Council meeting last month.
NW News on 04/27/2016