Moermond: secured by other than normal means is problematic. You do need to keep
the building secure and I understand you are struggling but you need to figure it out.
No question it is a nuisance condition. Given how infrequently the office is used and
the interior and exterior conditions, there’s definitely excessive clutter in some spaces.
That all comes together in looking more like a candidate for the Vacant Building
program than not. If you are working there and address these things I can see putting
some extensions in. A couple of months for the interior violations for example.
Bowen: I’d like to find out what Mayo will be saying about my future needing surgery,
what or when. I’d like that knowledge which I don’t have until these procedures are
done. I can update you on that.
Moermond: I want to give grace here, but maybe you should be hiring someone. We
are at a place here where these are some safety concerns that are significant. I see
branches and electrical and think it needs to be dealt with sooner than later. The
issues in the basement you mentioned someone doing that for you. I want to give you
time to be able to get someone hired or do it yourself and give you grace; we haven’t
talked yet about the significant exterior violations. I know you’re thinking of selling, I
don’t know if you have someone who will be purchasing. March 21 deadline on interior
and wires.
Bowen: I’ll put it in my calendar.
Moermond: what about the exterior? Sale and doing that exterior work?
Bowen: we’ve had two purchase agreements and each time the purchaser was going to
tear it down and build apartments but they didn’t come up with the financing they
though they had so they fell through. Currently I need to speak with our realtor again.
Moermond: I can recommend the Council give an extension through the construction
season, but if the work isn’t done by then what is the implication? If you fail to meet
them you are again with your revoked certificate and in the Vacant Building program.
Bowen: I don’t understand why it was sent to Vacant Buildings if it was never vacated.
We’ve officed there since the 1980’s. We still do. I said earlier that it is used
infrequently, but that isn’t the case either. The fact is, yeah there are some conditions
that we need to comply with for the Fire code, but to say the building has been vacant
is erroneous. I was told we were a Vacant Building because I wasn’t there when the
inspector came, but then agreed at the last hearing I was never notified.
Moermond: that wasn’t agreed to. The letters went to Mr. Dawkins rather than you
because he was listed as the Fire Certificate of Occupancy Responsible Party.
Dawkins: I was out of town.
Moermond: I understand but Mr. Bowen saying no notification was sent is in fact, itself,
erroneous.
Bowen: no notification was sent to ME.
Moermond: I understand the appointment letters. If it is revoked and looks to be
vacant by staff, which is why we are here today. Seldom used is what it looks like from
photos of the interior. Safety concerns in terms of clutter at the very least. Then the
other violations as discussed. I don’t mind recommending this isn’t in the Vacant
Building program, what I want to see are these things addressed. On its face it isn’t
great and without a Certificate of Occupancy you can’t occupy, period. Mr. Imbertson,
anything to add?