Press Release: Blighted Property

From the City of Central

One of the most difficult items to deal with as a city is “blighted property”.  This is property which has fallen into disrepair or perhaps lacks upkeep in the case of grass and weeds.  Many of these properties have multiple issues such as a building that needs immediate repair in order to make it safe and secure for occupancy, or property that needs grass cutting, removal of trash and rubbish, inoperable vehicles or other debris that creates an eyesore and a safety or health issue for the city and surrounding neighbors.

The clean up of our blighted properties is a priority for our city.  Ordinances are in place that allow the property owners due process after being issued a citation as well as time to clean up or make repairs, and if no progress is made, an Administrative Hearing may take place in which the property owner may discuss the citation and hopefully come to a resolution of the issue.  In extreme cases, fines and Administrative Hearing costs may be assessed against the property owner and ultimately may become a lien on the property which would mandate payment after being placed on the property tax bill at the end of the year.

These ordinances are important so as to ensure property values are not endangered for other nearby properties and that safety, health, and well being issues for the city and our citizens are addressed.  We do realize that some property owners may not be able to address some of these issues on their own, and in that case, we will be happy to work with organizations in the city that may be able to help those owners with their problems.

Many property owners are working with us to rectify situations that have plagued our city for a long time. Together, we can be sure that Central is clean and safe and that property values can be maintained for you and your families.

If you have a question about whether a property is blighted, you can call our City Municipal Services Office at 262-5000, and someone will be happy to investigate the property.  You can also view the Administrative Hearings Agendas on our website, www.centralgov.com under the Government tab.