The City of Benton Community Services Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, July 9th, 2024, in the Council Chambers at the Benton Municipal Complex, immediately following the Parks Committee, which begins at 5pm. The agenda for the July 9th meeting and the draft minutes from the June 11th meeting are below.
Agenda
Council Chambers
Tuesday July 9, 2024
Immediately Following the Parks Committee Meeting at 5pm
Committee Members:
Chair – Evelyn Reed
Vice Chair – Ann Spencer-Cole
Staff Liaison – John Parton, Director of Community Development
- Establish a Quorum / Call to Order
- Recognition of Attendees
III. Approval of June 11, 2024 minutes
- New Business
- Condemnations
- 719 South Market Street (Condemnation)
- 300 North Second Street (Condemnation))
- 1206 Misty Drive (Condemnation)
V. Old Business
- Discussion
1. Trash Collection Service and Renters/Landlords
VII. Other
- Monthly Development Review Committee (DRC) Report – June 2024
(review only)
VIII. Adjourn
Minutes
June 14th, 2024
In Attendance:
Committee Members: Â
Council Chair – Ann Spencer Cole Â
Council Members present:
Council Member Shane Knight Â
Council Member Bill Donner Â
Council Member Jeff Morrow Â
Council member Jeff Hamm
Council Member Judd Hart Â
Council Member Steve Brown
Council Member Frank Baptist Â
Tom Farmer – Mayor Â
John Parton – Community Development Director
Council Chair Ann Spencer Cole declares a quorum and calls the meeting to order. Introductions  are made around the room. Council Chair Reed made a motion to entertain approval of the May  14th minutes, AldermanÂ
Jeff Morrow made a motion to approve, Alderman Jeff Hamm  seconded the motion. Motion carried. Â
Community Services Agenda: Â
NEW BUSINESS – Â
CONDEMNATIONS AND LIENS Â
1215 Cherry Lane (Condemnation) – Mr. Parton stated the house is in bad shape. The owners  have filed for a demo permit that was approved, the owners haven’t paid for or picked up the  permit. Alderman Jeff Morrow made a motion to move forward with the condemnation,  Alderman Jeff Hamm Seconded the motion. Motion carried. Â
1203 Venturi Drive (Lien) – This property is primarily brush. Â
603 West South Street (Lien) – This property is the carwash. It was overflowing with debris  going into neighbors’ yards. The owner is going to take care of the cost of cleanup, however at  the time of the meeting, they hadn’t been by to pay.
1206 Misty Drive (Lien) – This property is primarily brush. Â
608 Misty Drive (Lien) – This property is primarily brush. Â
Alderman Shane Knight asked if the owners of the carwash at 603 West South Street was  working with a valid business license. Mr. Parton stated that he believed they were but that he’d  check with Bruce Thomas to verify. Mr. Knight addressed the mayor asking if they had to go  through the lien process to recoup expenses that the city is out to clean up the property, what is  the process or the legalities to revoke their business license until the lien is paid. He asked the  mayor if he could check with the city attorney on this. Alderman Judd Hart stated that looking at  the pictures provided if the trash could have been from a storm or high winds that just knocked  the trash out of the cans and scattered it around. Mr. Parton stated that this particular property  has been cleaned up (4) times and that this is a recurring pattern. Alderman Shane Knight made  a motion to move items 2-5 through the lien process, Alderman Jeff Hamm seconded the  motion. Motion carries. Â
UPDATE PETITION DRAFT ORDINANCE ON ANNEXATION OF THE THOMAS Â PROPERTY TRACT 3-5 Â
Mayor Farmer stated that before the last council meeting, when the state was asked what needed  to be done, tracts 6-10 had already been annexed into the city back in 1965, and the county was  unaware of this. At the time, it had to be pulled off the agenda to be made legal. Everything has  since been made legal and has been filed at the clerk’s office. Â
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AIRBNB/VRBO UPDATE
Mr. Parton stated that the voluntary collection agreement that allows us to collect taxes was  received by him. He has forwarded the documentation to the city attorney who stated it looked  fine. It was also sent to Mandy Spicer, CEO and the A&P. A&P will be the ones to sign off on  the contract. Mayor Farmer addressed a question asked by Alderman Knight regarding  constantly having to amend the language. Mayor Farmer stated that the city attorney is working  on constructing an ordinance. Alderman Steve Brown stated we should also look into and  research Travelocity and Expedia as third-party booking agencies. Â
DISCUSSION OF THE CONDEMNATION CHECKLIST Â
Mr. Parton stated for the nuisance abatement we provide for situations where a condemnation  might be necessary. The definition that’s used in our ordinance 20 of 2021 says, “to a judge  unfit for human occupancy”. What constitutes someone that should be removed from that state  of being condemned? Mr. Parton has received feedback from several sources. Code Compliance  listed some examples such as vermin, mold, house not being secure, being structurally unstable. Mr. Parton said to use our definition, it needs to be fit for human occupancy to no longer be  condemned. We should also follow that standard if we want to condemn it as well. Mr. Parton is open to any guidance in terms of what can be used. Council Chair Cole asked when a home is  condemned this means no one can live there. Mr. Parton said that was correct. She asked what  if someone continues to live there, what is done at that point. Mr. Parton said that they don’t  want to condemn a home if someone is living there. There may be things out of our realm that  need to be addressed like calling the Health Dept. Mr. Parton clarified that if a person was living  in the home, we may issue a standard nuisance violation rather than a condemnation. Alderman  Knight said that the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality under annotative code 8-6- 2005, have established nuisance properties to also include any development of vectors (mice,  rats, snakes). They have a punch list that their environmental officers use while they’re out  inspecting properties for condemnations. Â
151 Border Street – A representative for this address approached the podium regarding the  condemnation stating the structure was not secure, there’s a tornado structure in the back that’s  not secure and the garage was falling down. The pictures provided show the house is secure now  and the carport has been repaired. The yard looks better. The building is not complete yet. The  exterior power is on, they are still working on the inside to do a complete rewire. There has also  been some framing done. Mrs. Carr (owner) has said there have been some setbacks due to  weather. They are requesting an additional 60 days to complete the repairs or completely take it  off the condemnation list. Alderman Bill Donner made a motion to grant a 60-day extension,  Alderman Jeff Hamm seconded the motion. Motion carries. Alderman Jeff Morrow made a  motion that they shouldn’t have to come in every 30 days to report progress, Alderman Judd  Hart seconded the motion. Motion carries.
OLD BUSINESS – Â
MEETING ADJOURNEDÂ
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