Council condemns house

The City Council approved giving 61 days for the owners of an abandoned residence to make specific repairs, or the city will take action to demolish the house, which has been in disrepair for about five years, according to city officials.
The council accepted that all of the deficiencies at the 1821 Dale St. residence in Morgan City, as listed by Planning and Zoning Director Anthony Governale, must be completed within 61 days of receipt of a letter by all owners of the property, or the city will move forward with demolishing the house. The council also approved condemning the property.
Several deficiencies at the residence need to be addressed, Governale said. An electrical inspection needs to take place, and repairs need to be done on a sidewalk, driveway and a structure at the back of the residence, he said. Additionally, the back yard needs to be cleared and the entire property secured. The roof needs to be repaired as well, Governale said.
Morgan City Attorney Greg Aucoin said procedural steps need to be followed in order to ensure that the city can legally take action on a residence.
Governale said issues with the property began in 2009 with tall grass. A diseased tree fell on the property in 2012, he said.
Governale said Avis Clemons claims to own 100 percent of the property, but the records Governale has obtained show her ex-husband, Don Clemons, owns the home in addition to two banks. Both Avis and Don Clemons have an address listed in Stone Mountain, Ga.
In July 2013, the city sent a letter to the owners expressing city’s intent to condemn the house, Governale said.
The city has not yet assessed a penalty to the owner or owners of the property, Governale said.
Morgan City Recreation and Culture Director Dwayne Barbier, who lives across the street from the residence, said the house is not livable and is a fire hazard if the electricity is turned back on.
“We just want to see something done,” Barbier said. “We want something done as soon as possible.”
The council also approved an ordinance authorizing a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Morgan City Harbor Terminal to transfer 75 feet of city property on La. 182 next to the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium for the construction of a government emergency and operations center. Port officials also purchased private property to build the center.
Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade said geotechnical work is scheduled to begin Thursday at the site.
The $9.3 million center will serve as an emergency command center during events such as hurricanes. Construction is scheduled to begin in July with the completion date set for May 2015.
In other business, the council:
—Approved locating the Fallen Warrior Memorial directly across from the petting zoo on Myrtle Street by the auditorium parking lot.
—Approved the finance committee’s recommendations to purchase more residential garbage cans not to exceed the $35,000 limit for the year.
—Approved blocking off First Street and Everett Street to traffic at two points from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 for the Artists’ Guild Unlimited “Talented/Gifted: Diversity in Art” event showcasing students’ live performances outside of Everett Street Gallery. The council noted that the approval to close the streets included addressing any issues surrounding businesses may have with the closures.
First Street to the south of the gallery just beyond City Hall and First Street to the north of the gallery at the back of Everett Street Gallery will be closed. Also, Everett Street to the east just before the Morgan City Volunteer Fire Department driveway and Everett Street to the west up to the back of the post office will be closed.
—Approved a resolution declaring April as Fair Housing Month.
—Approved closing access to the streets surrounding the Joe Ruffin Housing Development at 1409 Railroad Ave. in order to enclose the development with a fence. However, emergency personnel access will still be allowed.
—Approved putting skate equipment awarded to the city by the parish at the Complex Park area next to the auditorium and behind Cypress Park. The equipment would consist of a concrete slab and eight or nine skate park apparatuses, Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said. The park will be a skateboard-only park, the mayor said.
—Went through a first reading on an ordinance to adopt the 2014 tax year millage rates.