Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

REFERRALS & RESPONSES FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2011





TO THE CITY ATTORNEY:



1. ORDINANCE:



Let?s prepare an ordinance to rename 5th Street after Rev. J. H. Flakes, Jr.

(Request of Councilor Woodson)



Response:

Planning Staff is working with the proponents of the ordinance and will bring

back to Council in the near future.



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2. HOUSING HEALTH CONCERNS:



Let?s check to see if there is something the City could do or have some type of

law where the City could actually go into the home where an individual does not

have sanitary conditions to make them comply with sanitation guidelines. Also,

check into more stringent fines. (Request of Councilor Barnes)



Response:

Per the Health Department Attorney:



Thursday, August 11, 2011, an Environmental Health Tech with the Columbus

Health Department went by and inspected this property. While she did notice

that the house doors were open, the department has no regulated authority

inside of a private residence and therefore can be of no assistance with the

odor inside this home. She found no odor on the outside and no evidence of

fecal matter. If either the Health Department or I can be of any further

service, please do not hesitate to call. Thanks.



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TO THE CITY MANAGER:



3. RECORDER?S COURT:



Has the staff to maintain a report that shows what was assessed that day, week

or month in Recorder?s Court and what are our collections. (Request of Mayor

Pro Tem Turner Pugh)



Response:

Response from Finance Director Pam Hodge:



A request has been made to IT to develop a report. Estimated development time

is 4-6 weeks.



REFERRALS & RESPONSES FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2011 ? CONT?D





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4. WEEDS:



Have the Administration to discuss at a work session the problems regarding

properties where the weeds are overgrown, because maybe there is a way to

expedite the process of dealing with weed problems. (Request of Councilor

Davis)



Response:

Response from Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin:



Staff is working on a presentation to discuss overgrown weeds and other

violations for the Council Worksession on August 30, 2011. (provided

Mayor/Councilors a hard copy of presentation on August 30, 2011.)



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5. LAND BANK AUTHORITY:



Have staff to come before the Council to discuss the progress of the Land Bank

Authority. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)



Response:

Response from Deputy City Manager David Arrington:



The Chairman of the Land Bank Authority will make a brief presentation on the

Council Work Session Agenda on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. (Presented to Council

on August 30, 2011 by Chairman of the Land Bank Authority)





6. HOUSING HEALTH CONCERNS:



Have the Inspections & Code Enforcement Division check to see if there are any

structural problems at 445 McCartha Drive. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)



Also, let?s get with the Health Department to see what they can do to assist in

resolving this issue. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)



Response:

Listed below is an update on the referral from Mayor/Council concerning 445

McCartha Drive. Staff will continue to investigate to try to find ways to give

the neighbors some relief.



REFERRALS & RESPONSES FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2011 ? CONT?D







Per Lucy Sheftall, City Attorney?s Office ? 8/12/11 -- 8:53a.m.:

I know you all received Steve's response on the McCartha Drive issue. He and I

spoke this morning and he said that the Health Department inspector had noticed

that the building did appear to be open and unsecured. Health Department does

not enter premises on its own without police escort, but if police is able to

enter property because it is unsecured, the Health Dept. might be able to

accompany them. So you might want to see if a coordinated effort with the

police could be arranged even though from the discussion at Council, I had the

impression that the building was occupied.



Per Stephen G. Gunby 8/12/11 @ 8:22a.m.

Yesterday an Environmental Health Tech with the Columbus Health Department went

by and inspected this property. While she did notice that the house doors were

open, the department has no regulated authority inside of a private residence

and therefore can be of no assistance with the odor inside this home. She

found no odor on the outside and no evidence of fecal matter. If either the

Health Department or I can be of any further service, please do not hesitate to

call. Thanks.

SGG



Stephen G. Gunby

Page Scrantom Sprouse Tucker & Ford, P.C.



Christy Kuriatnyk, Columbus Health Department 8/11/11 @ 4:43p.m.

This afternoon, I had an environmental health tech go to the property and

report back. She found no fecal waste in the yard, nor did she notice a smell

of waste.

While she did notice that the house doors were open, this department has no

regulated authority inside of a private residence and therefore can be of no

assistance with the odor inside this home.

If there is any other way we can assist you, please ask.



Per Rebecca Riggins, Inspections/Code 8/11/11 @ 4:24pm

Inspections and Codes went to this address yesterday (Aug. 10, 2011) and today

(Aug. 11, 2011); there is a locked gate at the property; our officer called to

the owner, who was present in the house, but he would not respond. We did

not observe any Property Maintenance Code issues.



Per Molly Jones, New Horizon, 8/10/11 @ 5:11pm

We are not familiar with the person in this report and, unfortunately, are not

able to offer assistance.



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REFERRALS & RESPONSES FROM MAYOR & COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2011 ? CONT?D





7. RAILS TO TRAILS:



Let?s have the staff to delay any further development in the Talbotton Road

area with respect to the Rails to Trails project due to some parking concerns

raised by the business owners in that area and until we have had an opportunity

to hear from Mr. Kenneth Flake who is interested in speaking on the Public

Agenda. (Request of Councilor Allen)



Also, let?s not wait until the next Council Meeting to meet with Mr. Flake to

see what his concerns are to determine what progress could be made before his

appearance on the Public Agenda and to see if we could reach some sort of

solution. (Request of Mayor Tomlinson)



Response:

Response from Deputy City Manager David Arrington:



Councilors Henderson and Allen, City Manager Hugley and Staff met with the

concerned parties on site yesterday. Staff will be developing several parking

concepts and cost estimates for consideration within the next week.





8. YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL:



Have staff to actively work for participation for all of the schools on the

Youth Advisory Council. Mayor or City Manager can write a letter to the

various principals of schools to participate. (Mayor Tomlinson)



Response:

Response from Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin:



We will work closely with the MCSD and private schools to ensure that we get

participation from all middle and high schools.























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