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Don't Know Quite What To Do..................

A

Alias

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Oct 26, 2009
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State of Disbelief
Had a family (more like a horde) get burned out of their home earlier this year. Their permit expired last week and I have not been on an inspection there since August, when I looked at the progress on the insulation and sheetrock (partially done). This is an owner-builder situation.

I had the neighbor come in last week and ask me if I had inspected the roof and I said "no". He told me that they hadn't put down felt before shingling. I talked to him awhile and then he proceeds to tell me that they are LIVING there! I have not issued a C of O for the house.

I had a suspicion that they were living there because I saw lights on last Tuesday night about 10 PM when I was on my way home from city council and the neighbor just confirmed it. Also, all their junk rigs have reappeared on the street in front of the home.

Anybody have a good idea on how to handle this one? My thoughts are send a letter about the expired permit, then proceed from there. I know that I will end up tagging the home as substandard.

This family is a perpetual thorn in my and the city's side. Yearly nuisance abatements, hoarders, junk cars on the public ROW, etc. This is the same family that had a garage fire two years ago and that the city hauled 9 dump truck loads of trash out of their yard in 2007 because they refused to comply with the nuisance abatement! In '07, mom flipped out and went after the cops that were doing standby.

Wish me luck,

Sue
 
Not that easy, I believe in live and let live, but once the neighbors start in, we still have a job that we were hired to do. Particularly if you've (been forced to adopt)) adopted the IPMC. That's the perspective. Good luck Sue.
 
This family is a perpetual thorn in my and the city's side. Yearly nuisance abatements, hoarders, junk cars on the public ROW, etc. This is the same family that had a garage fire two years ago and that the city hauled 9 dump truck loads of trash out of their yard in 2007 because they refused to comply with the nuisance abatement! In '07, mom flipped out and went after the cops that were doing standby.
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What I was getting at is that not a damn bit of that is relevant to the current situation...other than it points to the fact that there is a moderate probability that there are some mental health issues involved.

And citizens are supposed to be a thorn in the government's side.
 
fatboy said:
Not that easy, I believe in live and let live, but once the neighbors start in, we still have a job that we were hired to do. Particularly if you've (been forced to adopt)) adopted the IPMC. That's the perspective. Good luck Sue.
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And to quote the late George Carlin.... "Live and let live... that's what I always say. Anyone who can't go along with that... take 'em outside and shoot the M*&^F^+*#@er!"
 
Alias said:
This is an owner-builder situation. Sue
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Can you clarify what you mean by "owner-builder"? The reason I ask, is our little rural jurisdiciton is only one of 2 counties in the state that has adopted an "owner-builder" provision. It is quite a bit different from someone who wants to get a conventional permit and act as the contractor.

OB for us, exempts them specifically from most of the IRC provisions. We can only enforce life safety, energy code, mech. and plumbing.

It's archaic, but we are stuck with it.
 
righter101 said:
Can you clarify what you mean by "owner-builder"? The reason I ask, is our little rural jurisdiciton is only one of 2 counties in the state that has adopted an "owner-builder" provision. It is quite a bit different from someone who wants to get a conventional permit and act as the contractor.OB for us, exempts them specifically from most of the IRC provisions. We can only enforce life safety, energy code, mech. and plumbing.

It's archaic, but we are stuck with it.
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righter 101 -

I'm in CA and owner-builder means that you are acting as a contractor, cannot hire anyone (read laborer) without workers comp, and is responsible for all of their own work. They must follow code!

Sue
 
if there happen to be children living there, turn them over to children's services - they have a bigger stick than you have. They will (usually) in return call you in. I have yet to run into a judge (even those who believe it's a person's right to live as they choose) who will not issue orders for you (order to vacate the premises, condemnation, civil violations, etc) when children are involved. While I don't like using kids as hostages in these situations, if it works... it's a great tool. (HINT: without kids, they can't usually get welfare benefits).
 
peach said:
if there happen to be children living there, turn them over to children's services - they have a bigger stick than you have. They will (usually) in return call you in. I have yet to run into a judge (even those who believe it's a person's right to live as they choose) who will not issue orders for you (order to vacate the premises, condemnation, civil violations, etc) when children are involved. While I don't like using kids as hostages in these situations, if it works... it's a great tool. (HINT: without kids, they can't usually get welfare benefits).
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Children as tools for code enforcement. That's fkd.
 
administrative warrant to inspect, if gov moon beam allows that and a do you have minimum housing standards??? that may apply

do you have authority to pull utilities?? and if so under what condtions

stop work notices

start condemation process??
 
"Children as tools for code enforcement. That's fkd."

No....... more fkd is would be to disregard any children involved....... period, regardless of the outcome.
 
fatboy said:
"Children as tools for code enforcement. That's fkd."No....... more fkd is would be to disregard any children involved....... period, regardless of the outcome.
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I go for the jugular and threaten to tow the cars.

Tiger
 
fatboy said:
"Children as tools for code enforcement. That's fkd." No....... more fkd is would be to disregard any children involved....... period, regardless of the outcome.
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Once again, you are full of self righteous bull****.
 
Letter stating permits have expired went out this week via regular mail. I will be in Phoenix next week so I will be addressing this issue further when I return.

I now have confirmation from the graveyard patrolman that there have been lights on several nights running. I will be talking to City Council about the issue as they like to be kept informed. ;)

Sue
 
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cda said:
administrative warrant to inspect, if gov moon beam allows that and a do you have minimum housing standards??? that may applydo you have authority to pull utilities?? and if so under what condtions

stop work notices

start condemation process??
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I have the authority to pull the utilities if I deem the building is unfit for human habitation. So yes, that will be the next step.

Sue
 
peach said:
if there happen to be children living there, turn them over to children's services - they have a bigger stick than you have. They will (usually) in return call you in. I have yet to run into a judge (even those who believe it's a person's right to live as they choose) who will not issue orders for you (order to vacate the premises, condemnation, civil violations, etc) when children are involved. While I don't like using kids as hostages in these situations, if it works... it's a great tool. (HINT: without kids, they can't usually get welfare benefits).
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These folks have been reported in the past and nothing was done. That's the sad part, local law enforcement is lax on some issues, tough on others. It's a c**p shoot as to what they are going to do.

Sue
 
fatboy said:
Not that easy, I believe in live and let live, but once the neighbors start in, we still have a job that we were hired to do. Particularly if you've (been forced to adopt)) adopted the IPMC. That's the perspective. Good luck Sue.
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Thanks fatboy. Yes, I have adopted the IPMC, mainly because of situations like this. I had originally been using the 1997 Uniform Code For The Abatement Of Dangerous Buildings, which was a good code.

Sue
 
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