Police and city work on blight enforcement

Commercial and residential properties in crosshairs

 

IMLAY CITY — At a city commission meeting earlier this year, Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby discussed on-going blight issues with board members.

Discussion was had on how to more effectively address the blight issue while also defining more clearly what falls under the city’s blight ordinance.

A concentrated effort by multiple city officials to identify problem areas in the downtown district has resulted in property owners being requested to address issues or face fines and penalties.

In a written document distributed to the commission, Chief Selby said, “The current City of Imlay City ordinances do not clearly define blight for downtown and are quite generic for residential areas as well.”

The Chief said section 33.03 defines who is authorized to address blight and ordinance infractions. Section 95.8 addresses Property Condition exceptions that vaguely list items most people would constitute as blight, without actually calling it blight.

As defined by state law, blight is described as a portion of a municipality, developed or undeveloped, improved or unimproved, with business or residential uses, marked by a demonstrated pattern of deterioration in physical, economic or social conditions.

Later in the explanation, the definition goes on to state: “It is expressly recognized that blight is observable at different stages of severity and that moderate blight unremediated creates a strong probability that severe blight will follow. Therefore, the conditions that constitute blight are to be broadly construed to permit a municipality to make an early identification of problems and to take remedial action to correct a demonstrated pattern of deterioration and to prevent worsening of blight conditions.”

Chief Selby presented the commission with a Proposed Blight Ordinance Amendment with a few modifications which more clearly identify certain sections in the ordinance.

In the document, the Chief said, “The purpose of this section is to prevent, reduce, or eliminate blight in the City of Imlay City by the prevention or elimination of contributing factors and causes of blight which exist, or which may in the future exist in the City of Imlay City.

Some examples of blighted property include any dwelling, garage or outbuilding, or any factory, shop, store, office building, warehouse or any other structure or part of a structure” that does not comply with a long list of requirements.

Part of that list includes: “Because of fire, wind or other natural disaster; partially constructed on valid building permit; not structurally sound, weather tight, water proofed or vermin proof; not covered by a weather-resistant paint or other water proof covering; has inadequate, missing or chipping mortar, missing or damaged ornamental fascia; and for businesses in the downtown area, a lack of effort to open the doors of a business within the business district within 10 months of purchasing, leasing or renting a building.

A complete listing of conditions of a blighted structure can be seen at city hall.

The Proposed Amendment goes on to point out an “Enforcement Officer” can be the Imlay City Building Inspector, any Imlay City police officer, Ordinance Officer or any other person designated by the Imlay City Commission to enforce blight.

Chief Selby said ultimately, officials want to do what they have to, to give the blight ordinance some teeth to help clean up Imlay City.