Property maintenance code meeting draws pointed responses

A property maintenance code facing a repeal vote next month drew a lot of criticism Monday (April 4) from Jonesboro residents as city officials stressed the need for the code.

Jonesboro city officials hosted the town hall meeting at the Jonesboro Municipal Center to discuss the proposed property maintenance code.

The code has been debated for nearly a year with supporters and opponents alike making their case on the issue. Supporters have said the code will make a dent in the number of dilapidated homes in Jonesboro while opponents said the code violates the Fourth Amendment’s ban on illegal searches.

After debate for several months, Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin voted Dec. 15 to break a 6-6 tie on a vote on the code. Perrin said he broke the tie due to the work of a citizens’ committee last year as well as wanting to have teeth in city ordinances on dilapidated homes.

The code is up for a May 10 repeal vote in the city. On February 12, attorney Travis Story of Fayetteville turned in a petition seeking to repeal the code.

COMMENTS
At least 25 people heard from Perrin, Lt. Todd Nelson of the Jonesboro Quality of Life department, City Attorney Carol Duncan, Police Chief Rick Elliott and Fire Chief Kevin Miller on the issue. In a video shown before the town hall, Perrin said the code will help keep homes up to par. Perrin said the city has already demolished at least 50 dilapidated homes in Jonesboro.

Nelson said in the video that the code will be complaint driven, with the kind of complaint playing a role in how the issue is addressed. Also, a five-member board will be appointed to hear complaints involving violations. However, several in the audience who attended the meeting said they believed the violation process could be used for retribution.

The code also includes an amendment mandating that the person must give written permission to search a property before code enforcement can go inside a home, Nelson said. “The code, in no way, violates the Fourth Amendment,” Nelson said in the video.

QUESTIONS
People attending the meeting asked questions ranging from why the city implemented the code, grants to repair homes, and the fines for high grass in yards to junk cars.

Duncan said fines are set by a district judge, within a certain range covered by law or ordinance. Also, Duncan said city councils can revise or change parts of the code if a problem happens. Nelson also told the group that $175,000 in federal grant money is set aside this year to help with repairing homes.

Bobby Long, who is seeking a Jonesboro City Council seat May 10, asked city officials whether or not there was a conflict of interest in the code enforcement office being the inspector and interpreter of the code. Nelson responded that there would not be a problem in the enforcement issue.

“My belief is that I am against this code. I am not against having a code, but I am against this code,” Long said.

Nelson said the code will cover specifics, with violations done on specific violations instead of general violations.

“This is a dog and pony show,” Darrel Cook said. “This is so vague. The people don’t want this. The council voted 6-6 and the mayor approved this.” Cook said he has sold nearly 3,000 homes during his 29 years in the real estate business. “I have lost more sales to barking dogs in my career than to paint on homes,” he said.

Debbie Pelley of Jonesboro said the code adds to further distrust in government. “Why would you implement a code if you are not going to enforce it,” Pelley said.

The code, if not repealed by voters on May 10, is set to take effect May 15.