By David Lazenby
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — City officials on Thursday initiated a discussion regarding a proposed update to Trussville’s property ordinances.
David Arnett, superintendent of Engineering Inspections for the City of Trussville, speaks to city councilors.
During a city council workshop session, David Arnett, the city’s superintendent of engineering inspections, gave a presentation on proposals to protect city standards that was peppered by comments from city attorney Shay Reynolds.
Reynolds and Arnett worked together to produce the property code proposals councilors are now examining.
“When we initially started looking at this and looking at the current ordinances, some of them dated back to … ordinance 49,” Reynolds said. City clerk Lynn Porter said this city ordinance was adopted in the late 1940s or early 1950s.
“I look at it with eyes toward the notice and the process so we can make sure we are not running afoul of any due process concerns,” Reynolds said. “When you’re talking about condemning homes and demolition … it can open the city to a lot of liability.”
Printed material passed out to councilors by Arnett stated there are currently only two city ordinances concerning property; one for weeds and one for nuisances.
“Both are vague, general and do not assist our growing city and protect the standard of living our citizens have come to enjoy,” the printed presentation stated.
The changes being looked at apply to grass height, vehicles and the exterior and interior of private and commercial property.
Reyolds said she and Arnett examined the codes of several other local municipalities for guidance when formulating the new property proposals being considered for Trussville.
Mayor Buddy Choat said Thursday’s conversation was just a starting point for deciding what new laws the city may approve. Therefore, he said it would not be on the agenda for Tuesday’s city council meeting since Trussville’s elected leaders will need more time to consider the proposals.
Choat added that the alterations being considered were not generated without forethought.
“This has been in the works for months,” the mayor said.
Councilor Alan Taylor expressed some concerns about thecouncil overstepping its boundaries if it adopts the changes discussed during the workshop.
“I just think we’ve got to be careful,” he said.
Council President Brian Plant said he too has concerns regarding fair treatment of citizen’s rights when enacting new laws regarding private proeprty.
“Let’s be cognizant that we are tampering with people’s property rights, and we want to be respectful of that,” Plant said.
14 Comments
Thom McGuire
Watch your step..!
Jacki Bailey Riley
Jeffery Shelley, your thoughts?
Steve Turner
Interior of private property? If so, That’s going too far.
Carla Ellis Mac McGann
good idea fairy, much?
Tommy Dodson
Interior? Really ? Ok that should be interesting
Randy Hydrick
Help what does this mean?
Donna Santos Griffith
Will the citizens get to vote on these proposed laws?
Sue Walker
I purposely don’t live in a subdivision because I don’t want to put up with this kind of nonsense. As usual, give someone a little bit of power and immediately they are too big for their britches and think they have the right to tell everyone else how to live their lives. Trussville was a wonderful place to grow up in the 60’s . . but we didn’t feel like we had to keep up with any other place . . . people focused on being a good neighbor rather than telling their neighbor how to live. In short, we minded our own business and didn’t infringe on anyone else’s rights . . . city officials need to do the same.
Magen Nelson
Hmmm…. what gives them grounds to inspect the interior of a home? What is considered “condemned?” What is considered worthy of “demolition?”
I find it ironic that the city votes to disallow that poor family to demolish and build on that property in the Cahaba District back at the beginning of the year (the house was infested with termites and beyond saving, if memory serves), because they were fearful the family would not build a home worthy of the Cahaba district in place of the older home… and now they’re wanting to right to mow over any home THEY deem unsuitable for living? Seems a bit ironic…. and legalistic…
Scott Roberts
I’m Ok with it. Take some pride in your property and community.
Zack Steele
If I may, I’d like to clarify. This was brought about due to a home that has been destroyed due to a fire, and a year later still sits as an eyesore and nuisance to people who live adjacent to the property. Unfortunately the city has no new ordinances on the books to help our citizens with these problems, as well as making sure a property is kept up. (I personally feel like grass should be kept below a foot in height.)
In response to the home demolished in the Cahaba district, no one voted to disallow this family to demolish the home. In fact, a demolition permit was GIVEN to the family by Building and Inspection. Based on public outcry, the mayor and Council declared a 90 day moratorium on demolition in the Cahaba Project area in order to come up with a feasible policy. The family is currently building a beautiful new home on Meadow Lane. I would be happy to talk about this further if you’d like. Thanks…
Carla Ellis Mac McGann
out of curiosity, are the owners of the fire damaged house having issues with their insurance claim and/or actually finding a contractor that can/will do the work for what the insurance will cover or just not dealing with the damaged property? Last time I had a damaged property insurance claim, it took a threat of a lawsuit for the insurance settlement to be reasonable and six months of discussion. I would not want the city applying pressure to deal with a damaged property while I am trying to get a insurance company to honor the insurance policy.
Zack Steele
Carla Ellis Mac McGann I don’t know specifics on the homeowners’ insurance, but it has been over a year since the structure burned
Judy Ping
I may be wrong., but…. my son bought a foreclosed house a couple of years back where inside personal property had to have sprinklers in the garage. Maybe that’s it?