Overgrown lots getting some attention

Gwendolyn Butler was one of several residents who spoke out on code enforcement issues at last Saturday's ward meeting.

Apparently, the East Rose Street resident's complaints didn't fall on deaf ears.

Public Works mowed the unsightly lots on the corner of East Rose and Walker on Thursday afternoon.

"Through Code Enforcement, getting a work order through Code Enforcement, we're going ahead and taking care of these lots and billing the property owners," Public Works Director Marvin Crawford said Friday.

Code Enforcement has to take certain legal steps like sending out certified letters and adhering to a waiting period so the city can recoup those expenses.

Butler, an ex-city of Blytheville employee who moved to Blytheville from Illinois 18 years ago, lamented the current condition of properties that surround her home.

"When I moved here, of course, there were different type people living here," Butler said. "But once those older people either moved on to nursing homes or died out, the properties were being bought up by criminals, basically. And this is the end result of it. They use these homes for their criminal activities and I think the police can probably verify those addresses, where those activities were carried on."

She said something should be done about the burned-out houses and dilapidated structures in her neighborhood.

"This is what we're left to deal with," Butler said. "We're not having it anymore. People have been complaining in areas all across this city who feel that the city just simply doesn't care. All they can do is tell us, 'well, there's a lot of red tape involved. We can't cut the grass because it belongs to someone else.' Well, I thought there was a policy in place and has been from years ago that if the residents left their property unmaintained that the city would automatically cut it and bill the customer for it, which is a good program. I can't complain about that. How in the world do you justify letting property grow up for four months. There can't be red tape enough that somebody can't get around it before it gets out of control."

She noted Councilman John Musgraves, chairman of the Code Enforcement Committee, has taken photos of the unsightly areas, and Councilman R.L. Jones has been "influential in helping us get to the right sources."

But Butler feels, more must be done.

"People are not happy about it," she said. "People want something done about it. We need a system that works for the people. People are trying to go to work. They're not trying to wait around for welfare benefits anymore. But the more they try, it seems like we get tripped up. It's like, you all stay over there and be content with living in the jungle. But listen, I wasn't born in the jungle and guess what? I don't want to live in it. We don't agree with this and we don't want it. Whatever we have to do, it's not going to happen anymore."

Butler claims a city employee was riding down her street once, on a tractor, and offered to cut the overgrown areas if she paid him.

She said others have told similar stories.

"City employees solicited money on this side and we had some on the west side, including the president of the NAACP (Mary Alice Jones)," Butler said. "She was approached by one of the city workers also about paying for a lot. He was using tractors, soliciting for his pocket."

Jones said Friday that it didn't happen to her, but she was told by someone that a city worker told the individual they would get the lot "for $50-something."

Jones declined to name the person.

Butler said she has brought the matter to Mayor James Sanders' attention.

Sanders said he asked her if she could identify them. Butler could not.

The mayor noted the city can't do anything unless it knows who committed the alleged solicitations.

During last Saturday's ward meeting, Sanders said: "Even if it takes a meeting with my Public Works director, you and to look at every last one of them, it's fine with me. That's what we need to do, to eliminate that type of stuff."

Friday, Crawford was unaware of the claims.

"That's the first I've heard of that," Crawford said. "I've had nobody come forward to tell me that. If they told her that, I certainly wish she would (come forward). If she would come forward and let me know, I would certainly address that issue -- quickly. "

He asked that she come see him.

Meanwhile, Butler said she wasn't raised "in this type of environment."

She noted she has seven brothers and sisters who live all over the United States.

"And I'm embarrassed for them to come here," Butler said.

During the ward meeting, Sanders said the laws are geared toward the property owners.

He noted even when a person walks away from the property, the law protects them.

"The word trespassing still pertains to the city," Sanders said. "Until we can get some legal way in order for us to do that. This is not just a Blytheville problem, it's a problem all across the country. But this is my problem because it's sitting in our lap. So what I'm trying to do still is use the law that we're aware of in order to do it. This isn't a one-time fix. You can go on somebody's lot and cut it. But then the next year you have to write letters and do all these other things just to get back on there."

City of Blytheville officials are working with private groups on plans to rid the city of dilapidated structures.

According to an email from Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson to Mayor Sanders, during a recent planning meeting, officials agreed to send a packet of information to the following individuals/companies for demolition services: Goolsby's, Stracener Brothers Construction, Marty Crawford and E&I Hauling.

Also, last month Sanders told the Code Enforcement Committee that the city is working with the Mississippi County assessor's office to collect on liens for the city's mowing expenses when the county receives the code-violating landowner's property tax payments.

The Code Enforcement Committee has also been working on a plan to start a land bank program similar to North Little Rock's program.

The board is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13, in the Municipal Courtroom.

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com