Onaway discusses property maintenance code

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

Onaway city officials are considering implementing a property maintenance code for the business district, a recommendation that came out of a recent planning commission meeting. The city has considered such a code in the past for vacant structures that would require the owners to keep them maintained.

The thought at the planning commission level was that with the huge investment going into the business district with the M-68 project to increase curb appeal, asking property owners in the district to keep their properties maintained would be appropriate.

?If one or two let their buildings go, it not only drives down the property values of the others, it prevents passersby from stopping, walking around and shopping here,? said city manager Joe Hefele.

At the present time the city does have an ordinance for unsafe buildings, which requires people to board up broken windows and doors. However, that ordinance does nothing to improve the appearance of the property.

Hefele suggested that the downtown development authority look at the idea and make a recommendation to the city commission. Commissioners felt it would be easier to make a decision on such a code if they had something to look at, and asked Hefele and city attorney Mike Vogler to draft language for such a code. The commission also asked to see a list of other cities that have some type of maintenance code in place, and how they enforce such a code.

BEFORE ANY

decision is made on a maintenance code it will be looked at by the planning commission, the downtown development authority and ultimately the city commission. ?I think it is better to have something than nothing. Three committees would look at it, that shows we are serious about it,? said commissioner Ron Horrocks.

Commissioner Jessie Palmer questioned just how the code would work, as she didn?t feel right telling someone what to do with their property. Hefele insured Palmer that the code would be simple requirements, much like the rental ordinance, and not be asking property owners to do a lot of work.

?I continue to believe that the only way to get property values once again moving in the right direction, is we must step up our efforts when it comes to appearance improvements,? said Hefele. The idea of adopting a code would be to add curb appeal to the city as the commissioners feel that the first thing a person remembers about a town is what they see. The commission directed Hefele to get a list of cities with maintenance codes and find out how the codes are enforced. It will continue to be discussed at future meetings.