Eyesore properties could be cleaned up through grant

HALEYVILLE - The public is being urged to participate in a potential city-operated program, either by submitting their own properties in need of demolition or cleanup, or by writing letters of support, for a grant that would pay for a significant property clean-up as part of the city’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
The city conducted a public hearing prior to its Monday, April 20, council meeting to hear input from the public on this potential program, which resulted in questions and some concerns being expressed.
The amount of the Community Development Block Grant that the city is seeking, will depend on the amount of properties that are approved for demolition and clean-up, as well as what it will cost to clean up each individual property that has been submitted, then approved, city officials said.
The grant would be administered by the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments, which was represented at the public hearing.
“Number one, people want their town to look good,” Mayor Dr. Ray Boshell pointed out.   “Number two, when we’re trying to recruit businesses to come in.  When we’re trying to get people to move here, if they see a bunch of dead, decaying buildings and such, they are like, ‘this town is dying.’
“If you clean it up, then it looks like we’re growing,” Boshell added. “It makes us more attractive.”
For years, the city has dealt with eyesore properties, but could not clean them up, due to the properties being privately owned, city officials explained.
“I’ve never had more people talk to me about how much they were glad about this,” Boshell stated. “I think everybody recognizes we need to clean things up.”
The CDBG funding and resulting program would open doors to change all of that, by allowing city crews to be on private property that is submitted by the property owner for clean up, Boshell stated.
Although the city would have to contract out for the demolition work to be done, they can cover the matching costs the city will have due to in-kind work by using the city engineer and city employees, the mayor explained.

Residents with properties to be cleaned urged to contact city

Residents with properties in need of clean up or structures on their property that need to be demolished are being urged to contact City Clerk Christy Harbin at (205) 486-3121, to see if they meet the criteria for the program, urged Boshell.
“You cannot sign somebody else up,” Boshell emphasized. “It has to be your own property.”
Deadline for making application is June 1, and city officials are urging property owners to act on the opportunity as soon as possible.  The more properties approved, the better chance the city will have to receive the grant, they emphasized.
Property owners have to fill out a form to sign up in order to have their properties considered for the clean up, according to Boshell.
Once someone contacts City Hall about their property, city employees will go to the property and take pictures while doing an assessment, get property boundaries and other necessary factors, so the property owner can possibly benefit from the grant, city officials explained.

Public welcome to write letters of 
support

“One thing people can do to help is write a letter.  They can call city hall and say, ‘I would like to write a letter in support of this,’” Boshell stated. “Letters of support help us to get this grant.”
Those wishing to submit a letter of support, need to contact City Hall at the above number,and Harbin will take them through the process of submission, city officials said.
The letters will be submitted along with the grant paperwork and application, according to Boshell.
“This is something that will really help in revitalizing Haleyville and cleaning it up,” Boshell emphasized. “Revitalization is key.”
“We’re going to be involved in the application and administering of the program, if it gets funded,” explained Tiffany Boyd, director of governmental services for NACOLG, who attended the public hearing.

Two properties identified during public hearing

Boshell thanked those who attended the public hearing, announcing that at least four property owners had submitted their properties for demolition through the program, but only two of the major ones were identified at the public hearing.
“One is on one end of town, which is the old Scottish Thrift (motel).  The other is the old service station as you come in from Bear Creek,” Boshell explained.
During the public hearing, the city showed pictures of these properties on a screen behind where the council was seated.
“Is there anybody that doesn’t know where these properties are?” Boshell asked those attending the public hearing.
“There is an old house that’s over on 12th Avenue,” spoke out resident Valeria Taylor from the audience. “It is a danger because glass is out in the roads.  I was wondering if something like that would be put on your list.”
“The owner has to sign up,” Boshell responded. “If the owner would like to (sign up), we would be glad to.
“Both of these (properties already submitted), we spoke with property owners and they were glad to do that,” Boshell added.
“You can’t sign up somebody else’s property,” Boshell then emphasized. “If anybody has anything they would like to put up, now is the time to do it because that will help the grant.”
“Are you looking at some of these properties and checking who owns them?” Taylor then asked.
“That is what we have been doing,” answered Boshell. “The Scottish Thrift (site) was one that I particularly wanted to make sure we got taken care of. That has been sitting there for years.
“To me, the hotel was the big win,” Boshell stated after the meeting. “I pass that (property) every day and I have seen that for years.
“We are going to clean up four to six buildings.  Next year, we have some more areas that are identified we can do,” Boshell added.
Boshell stated another property, that would have been added to the list, has instead been purchased with the new owner possibly having plans for the property.
“That’s even better,” Boshell said. “Coming into Haleyville from both ways is going to be cleaned up. People can sign up and it is free. It doesn’t cost the owner anything.
“A lot of these properties are properties that people don’t have the money to put into trying to get rid of it.  This is a good way we can do that,” Boshell explained.

Questions on owner accountability

“Is there anything to hold those people accountable, to make sure they keep it clean?” asked Dr. Beth Moore from the audience.
“It would not be involved with the project,” Boyd responded. “That is your ordinance, whatever y’all have in place.”
“But this gives them a fresh start,” Boshell added.
“It does,” Boyd agreed.
Resident Kenneth Barnes, who attended the public hearing, had some concerns about the demolition and clean-up program.
“My concern is, if you submit the property, the town is going to clean it up. The town is not really cleaning it up. It’s the people that are paying taxes because that is tax dollars going to clean private property up,” Barnes expressed.
“My theory is, if (the city) is going to clean it up, the landowners need to be responsible and reimburse the town for the clean up,” Barnes further pointed out.
“The city doesn’t own that property. An individual owns that property,” Barnes added. “I don’t think the taxpayers should be funding this.  I can see (the city) getting a grant to fund the money to get reimbursed.
“If they are going to have that money up front to operate this, they should have a special account with this money, when they get it back from the landowners to put  back into this account,” Barnes continued.

Council members state program needed to clean up city

After the public hearing and council meeting, council members agreed the demolition program would be a major step in cleaning up the city.
“I think it’s the right step to get the city cleaned up a little bit,” Cade Lewis said.
Colton Corum added, “It’s a great thing. It’s a great way to clean up the city more.
I think all the citizens of Haleyville are going to love seeing those (properties) cleaned up. I don’t see how anybody could not be glad for that.  Be thankful.
“There could be more properties added,” Corum continued. “It is not just limited to (four).”
Council member Boo Brooks added that she was excited the city will be receiving  CDBG funding for use in cleaning up blighted properties around town.”
“Many complain of abandoned, unkempt buildings and eyesores,  but some of the property owners may not have the money to fix up or maintain,” Brooks pointed out.
“This grant provides all cleanup, to get the property back to a green space without any liens nor cost to the property owner,” Brooks emphasized.
“This is going to be a great program,” stated council member Brian Berry. “I hope everyone takes advantage that has properties that are in disrepair.
“This is something they can take advantage of, to get those properties cleaned up and get our city looking better,” Berry added.