AN ORDINANCE
NO._________
An ordinance amending Article 6 of Chapter 8 of the Columbus Code to
allow liens to attach for costs of repairing and boarding of property; and for
other purposes.
---------------
THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1.
Section 8-84 is repealed in its entirety and replaced with a new
Section 8-84 to read as follows:
Sec. 8-84. - Prohibited use or occupancy.
The building official, as provided by the International Building Code, may
prohibit the further use or occupancy of a structure which he finds to be
unsafe for human occupancy until such structure is repaired, altered or
improved, or until the structure is demolished and removed. In this event the
building official shall cause to be posted at such entrance to the building or
structure a notice which shall read as follows: "This building is unsafe and
its use or occupancy has been prohibited by the building official of Columbus,
Georgia." Such notice shall remain posted until the required repairs,
alterations or improvements are made or until the demolition is completed. It
shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to remove such notice
without permission of the building official, or for any person to enter or
occupy the building except for the purpose of making the required repairs,
alterations or improvements or for demolishing the said building or structure.
In the event that a building has been declared unsafe, and there is no
evidence that the owner is making the required repairs, the building official
may direct that such building be boarded up in accordance with the Standards
set forth in the International Property Maintenance Code pending demolition or
other disposition of the property.
SECTION 2.
Section 8-85 is repealed in its entirety and replaced with a new Section 8-85
to read as follows:
Sec. 8-85. - Demolition costs to become lien against property.
The amount of the cost of boarding up, demolition, or removal of a building and
the cost cleaning the lot shall be a lien against the real property upon which
the building or structure is or was situated. Said lien shall be placed upon a
special lien book designated "Demolition Lien Book," which shall be maintained
by the clerk of superior court of Muscogee County. The director of finance of
Columbus, Georgia, shall enforce the collection of any amount due on such lien
in the following manner:
(a) The owner or parties in interest shall pay the full amount due on such lien
to the director of finance of Columbus, Georgia within 30 days of perfection of
such lien, and if such lien is not paid in full within 30 days of the
perfection of such lien, the owner or parties in interest shall pay 25 percent
of the total lien amount plus seven percent interest within 60 days of the
perfection of such lien to the Director of Finance of Columbus, Georgia, with
the remaining balance due on such lien to be paid in three equal annual
installments with interest at the rate of seven percent per annum, each of
which shall become due and payable on the anniversary date of the initial
payment made as hereinabove prescribed;
(b) Should the property upon which such lien is perfected be sold, transferred
or conveyed by the owner and/or parties in interest at any time, then the
entire balance due on such lien shall be due and payable to the director of
finance of Columbus, Georgia; and,
(c) Should the amount due on such lien, or any portion thereof, be unpaid after
the time for payment of the final annual installment prescribed in subsection
(a), said amount shall continue as a lien together with interest at the rate of
seven percent per annum until paid in full.
(d) The city manager is authorized to waive such liens, or any portion thereof,
for property identified to be transferred to the Land Bank Authority, pursuant
to O.C.G.A. Title 48, Chapter 4, for the sole purpose of disposing of the
property to an organization contemplated under O.C.G.A. ? 48-4-64. Prior to the
transfer to the Land Bank Authority, the city's real estate office shall
actively market the property for sale for a minimum of twelve months from the
date of waiver of the lien. The city manager is also authorized to waive such
liens, or any portion thereof, for property in the ownership of an organization
contemplated under O.C.G.A. ? 48-4-64.
(e) In addition to the authority granted in subsection (d), the city manager is
authorized to waive any demolition lien, or any portion thereof, when the
demolition lien does not exceed $25,000.00. If the demolition lien exceeds
$25,000.00, any waiver of such lien, or any portion thereof, must be approved
by resolution of the Columbus Council.
SECTION 3.
Section 8-87 is repealed in its entirety and replaced with a new
Section 8-87 to read as follows:
Sec. 8-87. - Emergency situations.
In emergency cases where it reasonably appears there is imminent danger to the
life or safety of any person or to the safety of any other property, the
building official shall cause such building to be made safe or shall order the
boarding up, repair or demolition of the building or structure and the cost of
such boarding up, repair or demolition shall be recovered and collected as
provided in this division.
SECTION 4.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are
hereby repealed.
---------------
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
12th day of April, 2016, introduced a second time at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the ______ day of ________, 2016, and adopted at said meeting
by the affirmative vote of ________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting____________.
Councilor Baker voting____________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________.
Councilor Buck voting_____________.
Councilor Davis voting____________.
Councilor Henderson voting________.
Councilor Huff voting_____________.
Councilor Thomas voting___________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________.
______________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON, MAYOR
Attachments
No attachments for this document.