Wednesday, January 26, 2000
New board to review property code rules
At issue: fines for weeds, garbage
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer Contributor
COVINGTON — A group of Covington residents could soon be reviewing building code citations issued to property owners who don't remove weeds or garbage.
City Housing Director Howard Hodge said Tuesday the three-member hearing board should be in place within two months. He said its findings would supplement existing city regulations.
“It would be an incentive for property owners to move on problem properties,” Mr. Hodge said.
An 11-member code enforcement review committee has been meeting since November. Its major choice: which of two state laws to use in dealing with unpaid fines.
Mr. Hodge said the committee chose one that gives property owners seven days instead of 30 to appeal the board's findings to Kenton District Court. After that, any unpaid fines would become liens against the property that would have to be paid off before any other mortgage or loan.
The board would deal with exterior conditions, trash and litter in yards and the condition of vacant lots and buildings. Commissioner J.T. Spence said the board is a good idea, but he wanted five or seven members.
Mr. Hodge did not know how much starting the board would cost. He wanted the city to hire at least one more building inspector, and recommended a secretary and attorney be present during at least the first few meetings.
In other action, commissioners heard a report concerning the proposed $2.2 million addition to the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Museum officials asked for a little more than $306,000 from a bond issue the city is considering.
Executive Director Laurie Risch said the amount the museum needs to raise increased from $1.2 million to $1.6 million. She also said the museum has collected nearly $450,000 in private donations and needs to raise another $900,000.
The three-story addition would give the museum additional exhibition, reception and programming space. The start of construction has been delayed because of unstable soil, which forced moving the addition about 80 feet from the present structure.
Cincinnati architect Jack Gore said the first phase of construction should begin this summer and take four to six months.
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