Blue Springs seeks public input on proposed property maintenance codes

Special to the Journal

A proposed ordinance to put Blue Springs in the business of policing the exteriors of buildings is getting a mixed reaction from the City Council. Mayor Steve Steiner opposes the ordinance, saying he’d rather the council vote on it during the next mayor’s watch. He said he’s concerned
that it’s too general, worried about the impact on elderly residents and is too close to “big brother” government. “How are we going to prevent a vindictive neighbor from using it as a tool?” Steiner asked. But council members support at least presenting it to the public for comments and then having a “first reading” March 17, a step toward adopting the regulations. The city will hold informational meetings on the codes from 6 to 8 p.m., next Wednesday and March 12 in the multipurpose room of Howard L. Brown Public Safety Building, 1100 S.W. Smith St. Several council members said residents want the code to clean up problem buildings, prevent blight and protect property values. “All of our neighboring communities have a maintenance code, and a lot
of our residents think we do, when we don’t,” Councilman Lyle Shaver said. “As the city gets older it becomes more significant.” A recent community survey asked whether the city should have a stronger maintenance property code. The result: 67 percent of respondents were supportive, 24 percent didn’t know and 9 percent were not supportive. At last week’s council meeting, one resident spoke in favor of such a code. Anthony Barulich said he lives next door to a house that
has been vacant four years. The water and natural gas have been shut off, but the electricity is still on. The absentee owner keeps the lawn mowed, he said, but it hasn’t been painted or stained in many years. He said he stayed up July 4 for fear a bottle rocket would catch that house
on fire. Squirrels have gnawed holes in the wood siding to make nests inside, and should
they bite through electrical wiring they could cause a fire, he said. “The siding is like tinder
now,” Barulich said. “I could light the siding with a match.” At the March meeting the council could offer amendments to the code and vote, although Steiner hinted he might use his power
to set agendas to delay its enactment. Scott Allen, director of community development,
said that under the city staff’s plan, a code-enforcement officer would do inspections primarily based on complaints and wouldn’t be “patrolling” streets looking for violations. The violation would be “truly egregious,” he said. The city would need an additional codes-enforcement officer, office space and a vehicle to put the program in effect, at a cost of nearly $89,000 for startup costs,
with about $50,000 ongoing expense, Allen said. He anticipated a July start date for enforcing the codes. Council members Sheila Solon and Jeff Quibell said the city should consider setting up a program to help elderly people who can’t afford fixing up their homes. Solon said Blue Springs could set up a minor-home repair program similar to one in Lee’s Summit. That community uses a portion of its annual federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that is intended to aid low- and moderate income residents. The city also could contact churches and civic groups to help such residents. Councilman Ron Fowler said he also is concerned about the vagueness of the ordinance. He said that if city officials were strict enough many buildings would be considered in violation. He said his own home didn’t meet the proposed code for street numbers. Fowler said he does support a maintenance code and wants to keep the issue moving
forward, but he also wants rules to be clear so that they address serious defects. “Somewhere between a cracked driveway and an abandoned house no one has lived in for 10 years, that we
want to go out and get,” he said.