By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur officials continue to say that people caught up in code enforcement issues just need to stay in touch, keep connected. “Communication” is the word most often used.
A good example of how it works came up at the latest meeting of the city’s board of works and safety, to whom code enforcement issues are brought.
Richard Chapman (right in photo), whose home at 922 Harrison St. has come before the board on several occasions, finally communicated by attending the meeting. In the end, after detailing his situation and apologizing for ignoring the city when it reached out to him, fines against his property were rescinded so long as he keeps the property in good shape.
Chapman, who lost a portion of his left hand in an accident, talked about trying to clean up the property but how he would get winded; about how a friend helped him before being laid up; that he’s on a fixed income and disabled.
After fines against the property began to pile up, Chapman told the board: “I was scared to make any appointment with you guys. I was just scared. I apologize.”
He finally decided to contact Curt Witte, head of the building and zoning department which oversees enforcement of city codes. Since that time, “he has helped me a lot,” Chapman said of Witte (with Chapman in photo).
“Communication is the key; it’s everything,” Mayor Dan Rickord told Chapman.
The lingering problem is that, because several warnings brought no response, the city paid a contractor $930 to clean up the property. And some items of apparent value were taken to a storage bin, at a cost of $81.
Board member Craig Coshow moved to rescind the some $1,500 in fines, telling Chapman: “You must promise to keep things cleaned up.”
However, Tyler Fullenkamp, another board member, said, “I’m not willing to have the taxpayers pay for the cleanup.”
So it was decided to have City Attorney Anne Razo draw up a promissory note for Chapman to sign, then he will pay back the city over time.
