The Marshall County Commissioners approved the proposed Unsafe Building Ordinance during their meeting this week.
In July, Marshall County Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt presented an ordinance to the commissioners that reorganizes the Unsafe Building Board, and enacts fines and penalties for lack of compliance.
DeWitt said the make up of the board will be a nine-person membership with representatives from Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, Plymouth, and Lapaz, along with one member to be appointed by the Marshall County Commissioners, one member appointed by the Marshall County Council, and a social services advocate appointed by the Marshall County Commissioners.
DeWitt added that the ordinance discusses an emergency order and a procedure for the enforcement of violations. A homeowner will receive a notice of violation with a timeframe of compliance. If a violation is not corrected within the time specified, DeWitt said a notice of fines for violation will be mailed via certified mail, by determination of the Unsafe Building Board. The first offense is $50 per day, the second offense is $100 per day and the third offense is $200 per day.
There were no public comments on the ordinance in a public hearing last month.
The commissioners took action to adopt the ordinance on second and third readings. The fines will not be in effect until 30 days after the ordinance has been published for public information.
