Building And Nuisance Board Addresses Property Concerns

The Building and Nuisance Board of the Trenton City Council addressed several properties and met with representatives from the Trenton Downtown Improvement Association during a meeting on Monday night at city hall.
The board voted to remove two properties from its nuisance list after it was determined that the owners had completed requested work. Those properties were located at 912 W. 14th St., owned by Teresa Coltrain, and 2108 Main St., owned by Steve Ishmael.
Property at 2904 Main St., owned by Richard and Corrin Seddon, was set for a public hearing in June while properties at 1804 Hillcrest, owned by Mike Arnold, and 405 W. 13th St., owned by Matthew Lee, were moved to findings of fact. The owners of property at 1437 Main St., Genie Buzzard and Carmin Morin, were given 60 days to complete removal of a structure at that location.
Thirty-day extensions were given to properties at 812 Grant St., owed by Steven and Serenity Leivan; 813 Olive St., owned by Denise Jones and others; 409 E. 1th St., owned by Altoff/Matlage; 1011 Custer St., owned by Birdie Wilson and Rose Ralston; and 2002 Chicago St., owned by Samuel Southers. Property at 1618 Mable St., owned by Joe Buckner, is to be referred to the city prosecutor for court action.
Permission was given to have utilities turned on for two properties which had been on the board’s certificate of existence of a dangerous building list but have now been sold to other owners. Steve May is renovating property at 1004 Laclede St. and was given permission for both electricity and water service to be turned on. Richard Powers was given permission for electric service to be turned on at 1312 Gilmore St., where he is also renovating a structure. A third property at 1111 Rural St., now owned by Mindy and Josh Carpenter, is to have electricity turned on once wiring to a structure on the property is completed and approved by Code Enforcement Officer Wes Barone.
Barone reported he anticipates work on the city’s 2019-20 demolition project to begin at any time. Red Rock will be taking down six structures, with property owners and the city sharing costs for the work. He noted that one owner, Penny Bell, has not yet paid her portion of the demolition cost for her property at 1314 Norton Ave.
Police Chief Rex Ross presented his monthly report, which showed 44 nuisances being reported since the first of the year, with 25 having been cleared, 15 active and four in the court system. There are a total of 24 cases to be disposed of on the city’s court docket.
Three members of the TDIA and its director were present at the meeting to express their support in working with the city to make improvements to properties in the downtown area.
It was noted that some buildings in the downtown area are being used for activities other than what is allowed under city ordinance, including use as residences and warehousing. TDIA President Jackie Soptic asked that the board and TDIA work together to accelerate code enforcement in the downtown area, including finding an “equitable way” to get ownership into “friendly hands’ to assure buildings are being used for their intended purposes. The TDIA representatives agreed to work with Barone in helping identify several downtown properties of concern.
In addition to Mrs. Soptic, representing the TDIA were board members Cathie Smith and Sarah Maloney, along with TDIA executive director Megan Taul.