Owners must now register foreclosed homes with the city
Clinton Bourgeois
Story Created:
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:21 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:40 PM EDT
Don't know who owns that abandoned building in your neighborhood?There's a good chance the city doesn't know either.
"A problem that the city has is in finding who actually owns property," said councilwoman Elaine Lucas.
"We really want to get people registered," added councilwoman Lauren Benedict.
Benedict is referring to having owners of homes that has been vacant, inhabitable, or have not had any electricity or utilities available for 60 days or more register they're property with the city within a 90 day period.
"We would hope that you would look at, make sure that that property is up to the standard of that community," said Wanzina Jackson, Director of Economic and Community Welfare for the city of Macon. "Looking at that you are making sure those windows are not broken out of the property, the doors have not been kicked in. That you're trying to maintain that property and be a good neighbor."
The ordinance initially required a $100 dollar registration fee, but the council reduced that fee to $10 dollars before approving the legislature.
"We were in favor for the registry we, we just had a problem with the amount of money," said Lucas.
"We want to encourage people to register," said Benedict. "We didn't want to make the cost so high that people wouldn't come forward and register their property."
Lucas finished by stating, "It's not to penalize anyone, it's to simply get a good idea of where these properties are."
If owners failed to meet requirements during inspection they face at least a $500 fine.
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