Town appoints manager as enforcer of dilapidated housing

COLUMBUS — Beechwood residents in Columbus attended a town council meeting this week to ask the town to clean up a dilapidated house they say does not fit in the neighborhood.

The Columbus Town Council met Thursday night and heard from Beechwood resident Winn Sams, who said the property in question has become a safety hazard.

“There are broken windows,” Sams said. “It’s in disrepair.”

Sams said the owner lives in Greensboro, and no one has lived in the house prior to 2003 when she moved into the neighborhood.

The house is located at 75 Beechwood Drive.

Sams said she has called the owner and offered to buy the home, but the owner was not interested.

She called the property an eyesore and a safety hazard.

The council approved appointing Town Manager Tim Barth as the town’s housing administrator, so Barth can go to the property and inspect it.

“I’ve been enlightened today as to really how bad it is inside,” Barth said. “I’ve seen pictures. This is a minimum housing code issue.”

After his appointment as housing administrator, Barth said the council can direct him to investigate the property at the next meeting. He said the owner will have 10 days to respond once a notice is given.

The end step could be the town tearing the structure down, depending on the response from the owner.

Columbus has a minimum housing ordinance, but did not appoint a housing administrator when the ordinance was created in 2007.

Barth said he has sent the owner two certified letters in the past, but the owner refused it both times. He said if a letter is refused, the town can post the notice for 10 days and, if there is no response, next steps can be taken.

“They can refuse it all they want, but we’re going to take action,” Barth said.

Last year, employees cut the grass on the property out of  courtesy, he said.

The audience applauded when Barth said the town would move forward and would take action Thursday, as well as the next meeting.

“All of us love where we live, and we want it to look welcoming and taken care of,” Sams said. “So, [the house] just doesn’t fit.”

Next month, the council will have to adopt a resolution directing Barth to investigate the property, he said. He offered pictures to council members.

“I’ve not seen anything like this for quite a while,” Barth said.