08/05/86 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 5, 1986 ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 17-1986 - OF CODE ENFC TING-OFF UN UNTS Ms. Katherine G. Barnard, Director, Department of Code Enforcement, advised the Board that as a bookkeeping measure, Resolution No. 17-1986 is being submitted for adoption. She stated that this Resolution writes -off nine hundred eighty five (985) uncollectable accounts from 1983 for a total of $55,145.75 and two hundred seventy (270) accounts from 1984 for a total of $22,559.75. She stated that these fees were assessed for the clean-up of properties. Further, attempts have been made to collect these fees by way of billings, referral to the Legal Department and referral to a collection service. In response to Mr. Vance's inquiry regarding whether or not attempts will continue to be made to collect these fees, Ms. Barnard stated that attempts will continue and occasionally, fees are paid years after they were incurred. In reviewing the list of accounts that are recommended to be written -off, Mr. Leszczynski noted that several well known individuals and companies were listed and inquired why the City was unable to collect from these individuals. Ms. Barnard stated that in some instances inadequate service to the appropriate property owner prevents attempts to collect the fees. She stated that in some cases, the property owner of record according to the Assessor's office records, is not accurate in that property has changed hands or is being sold on land contract with the new owner not being aware of the assessment. Ms. Barnard, in response to questions from the news media regarding the use of the phase "uncollectable" as they refer to cases in which improper service was the basis for being uncollectable, stated that hundreds of properties are cleaned each week and that the objective of the clean up program is to clean up as many properties as possible. A decision then has to be made to either get good service or to clean the lot. Mr. Vance advised that the problem of finding the correct property owner and collection of fees is not a new problem but continues to be an ongoing problem. There being no further questions, upon a motion made by Mr. Vance, seconded by Mr. Leszczynski and carried, the following Resolution No. 17-1986 was approved and adopted: CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS RESOLUTION NO. 17-1986 WHEREAS, the City of South Bend, through its Department of Code Enforcement, which is responsible for upholding the environmental provisions of the South Bend Municipal Code, billed the persons listed on the attached documents for charges accrued by clean-up or demolition; and WHEREAS, these charges have not been paid to the City of South Bend, Indiana, after established notices were sent to the person(s) who received the services; and WHEREAS, Federated Collection Agency and/or the Legal Department of the City of South Bend, Indiana, have made every attempt to collect the aforementioned charges and have not been successful; and WHEREAS, on May 20, 1986, the Board of Public Works adopted and approved a Department of Code Enforcement Collection Procedure. WHEREAS, the City of South Bend, Indiana, by and through its Board of Public Works, desires to write-off the charges listed on the attached documents; 1 1