Columbus, Georgia

Referrals From Mayor and Council-02/12/2002



Subject Demolition of Substandard Structures



Description Have the staff to prepare a pamphlet that explains what the

procedures are in tearing down a substandard structure, and make it available

to the citizens. (Request of Councilor Woodson) Also, when the staff meets with

the individuals, and goes over the process, have them to make available

paperwork for the individuals to sign, as well as the staff member to sign.

(Request of Mayor Peters)



Once the staff receives the total cost of demolition from the demolition

company, have the staff to look at sending out another notice to the property

owner advising them how much it will cost for the property to be demolished by

the contractor that the City is using and the amount that includes the asbestos

removal. Also, include in that letter, an explanation of the procedures for

them to follow, if they want to remove the structure with asbestos, then they

will have to follow those same guidelines, as a licensed contractor. (Request

of Councilor Turner Pugh)



Have the staff to work with the Columbus Housing Initiative to develop

information, to provide some educational information to those individuals who

may serve as executor or executrix of wills, as it relates to property.

(Request of Councilor Henderson)



Received From



Assigned To Richard Bishop, Rick Jones, Bill Duck



Response We currently send to each owner, along with the initial demo hearing

notice, a Demolition Process, which tracks the demo procedure from beginning to

end. (We will add to this Demolition Process the procedures for tearing down a

sub-standard structure.) This is sent via Certified Mail, which is signed for

by the owner. At the demolition hearing, if an owner chooses to attend, we

make available any answers to any questions he may have, and we offer to have

an inspector meet the owner at the subject property if he so desires. At the

hearing, we have each owner sign for his 45-day notice, which also contains a

copy of the Demolition Process. We send via Certified Mail, or hand deliver,

notices, which contain copies of the Demolition Process, to all owners who did

not attend the hearing.



Once we have received pricing from our demolition contractor, we send via

Certified Mail, a letter to the property owner, advising him how much the

demolition will cost, including the cost of asbestos removal, if applicable,

and the cost of the asbestos survey. We will add to that letter wording that

will advise the owner that he must observe EPA standards if he chooses to abate

the asbestos and perform the demolition himself. These standards would be the

same guidelines which a licensed demolition contractor is required to follow.



We will work with non-profit organizations to develop educational information,

which will assist an executor of an estate, as it relates to properties under

demolition notice.