NEW ALBANY — Two funding measures brought before the New Albany City Council Monday by Building Commissioner David Brewer were unanimously approved.

On final reading, the council agreed to appropriate $150,000 to the city’s unsafe building fund. The account foots the razing of structures and maintenance of overgrown private lots until the money can be recouped through liens or other action by the city.

Also during the meeting, the council approved on first and second ballots funding a full-time position within the department to oversee the filing of liens, which Brewer said will help ensure the city is repaid for its efforts.

“This allows us to hold people accountable and protect the tax dollars that we are using,” Brewer said.

The position is currently being filled on a part-time basis, but will have to be advertised for new applications if funding the $22,000 salary is approved on the final reading which will likely come on June 21.

The total appropriation is for $47,050, which would cover benefits and other costs associated with the position.

According to Brewer, the building department collected just $1,130 in code enforcement fees and liens in 2009. Due in part to the addition of the position, Brewer said the city has already gathered more than $50,000 in liens and fees this year.

Additionally, Brewer said having a person working on liens allows him to spend more time on the streets addressing code issues.

The money collected returns to the unsafe building fund. Councilman Dan Coffey requested a stipulation be added before the third reading requiring the department to fund the position with money garnered from fine collections by next July.

“After that, they’re on their own,” he said.

As it stands, the salary and benefits are slated to be covered with Economic Development Income Tax revenue.

Councilman Scott Blair acknowledged code enforcement is a long process, but added he would like to see problem properties addressed in a way that leads to a productive reuse.

“It’s one thing to maintain [a dilapidated property], it’s another thing to get it back in the hands of the private sector,” he said.

In many cases, banks own the properties that have been abandoned. Brewer said the city must follow strict guidelines when it comes to mowing lots, citing violations and filing liens to ensure the public sector can’t be held liable.

Of the $150,000 approved for the unsafe building fund, $130,000 was earmarked specifically for the demolition of hazardous structures. The remaining $20,000 will be used to fund mowing unsightly lots, as the city typically utilizes private contractors for cutting grass.

Coffey said he plans to introduce an ordinance soon calling for $70,000 to be appropriated for the purchase of additional mowing equipment for the city. The New Albany Street Department could use the equipment to mow overgrown lots or the city could consider hiring part-time laborers to cut grass and weeds on properties ruled to be out of code, Coffey said.

The street department currently doesn’t have enough lawn mowers and other yard equipment to take on such a task, he continued.



Also at the meeting

• On first and second readings, the council unanimously approved amending its street and sidewalk ordinances and implementing a right-of-way management program.

The program would update and regulate standards for reimbursement for utility companies and other contractors that disturb the city’s infrastructure during construction.

However, at the request of the administration, the proposal has been sent to a council committee for consideration and won’t likely be up for a final vote until July.

The ordinance calls for an administrator to oversee the program and the specific guidelines as they pertain to the size and depth of street and sidewalk cuts, and a salary amount for the position hasn’t been set.