By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The City of Decatur has received some encouraging news on one of the homes under code enforcement scrutiny, while a second one has returned to the forefront for a lack of progress.
Building/Zoning Superintendent Curt Witte and assistant Brad Roe told the city’s board of works and safety at its latest meeting that an owner has finally been located for a home at 728 Schirmeyer St.
After numerous calls, Witte said, “I finally got to talk to a person.” That person was with EZ Home Investments of Clearwater, Florida, and the company “was friendly and easy to work with,” according to Witte.
He said the company asked if there was a local contractor who could clean up the property, so Witte sent them the name of one. Now it’s a wait-and-see game if any progress is made.
Meanwhile, the report on a home at 437 Mercer Ave. wasn’t as positive.
Owner David Wilson was informed April 1 that the 60 days he was given to repair his home’s roof had passed with no progress and that fines of $100 a day were starting.
Wilson visited the building/zoning office on April 5 and said a contractor who had agreed to make repairs and accept payments afterward, backed out. Other contractors were not interested.
Wilson turned to Neighborhood Impact Program (NIP), which works as a stepping stone between home owners and financial institutions. A realtor associated with the program confirmed to Witte and Roe that Wilson had indeed applied for a grant and a preliminary meeting with him was set up.
So Wilson has asked the city for a stay of his fines until he can learn whether or not he will get a NIP grant.
“He (Wilson) is concerned he will lose his home, but we’re not in that business,” Roe told the board.
After some discussion, the board decided to put the daily fines on hold; however, Wilson will still be responsible for the $1,600 in fines which have already accrued.