Walker County’s new “Blighted & Derelict Property” Ordinance, also known as the clean and lien initiative, aims to remove old buildings that are falling down and pose a hazard to society.
Here’s how it works: After a code enforcement official investigates and identifies a structure as a public nuisance, a formal complaint will be filed in Magistrate Court. The property owner will then be notified and given an opportunity to answer the complaint. If the judge moves forward with the case, the property owner will be given an opportunity to come into compliance on their own or demolish the structure on their own. If the owner fails to comply with the court order to repair or demolish the building, the court can grant the county authority to tear it down and place a lien on the property for the expense.
The county plans to tackle 12 abandoned properties at a time. The following properties have been targeted for 2019:
- 25 Park Drive
- 44 Keller
- 78 Keller
- 350 Devine Street
- 624 James Street
- 7085 Highway 136 West
- Mission Ridge (Parcel 0108014)
- 17 Cleveland Road
- 217 Up Our Way
- 5098 Highway 337
- 15 Davis Circle
- 1101 Salem Road