07-2008 Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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Did You Know? Common Property Maintenance Code Violations As the City works to clean up abandoned & vacant properties, we ask property owners' help in making our neighborhoods clean and pleasant places to live, by preventing or remedying the following com- mon code violations: Environmental Violations: • Uncollected trash and garbage, litter and debris • Fallen trees, stumps, dead trees and cut brush • Demolition remains • Appliances or furniture in yard • Auto parts and scrap metal • Grass over 9 inches tall Code Enforcement Procedures: 1. An Inspector verifies a code violation and issues a written notice to the property's owner describing the problem, asking the owner to comply within 5 - 10 days (depending on type of violation). For severe problems, a letter may allow only 24 hours to correct the problem. 2. If there is no compliance, the Clean-Up Crew will clean the property and the property owner will be billed for the cost of clean -up. Minimum charge is $111.00. The City's Department of Solid Waste can remedy many problems that involve removal of trash and debris. They can be reached at 574.277.8823. Housing Violations: • Roofs which are not weather tight. Substandard or inoperable plumbing, electrical wiring or heating systems. • Deteriorated and unsound structures. • Open cracks and breaks in foundation walls. • Lack of adequate heat and hot water. • Holes and rotting boards in exterior walls Code Enforcement Procedures 1. An Inspector determines if there are a significant number of struc- tural defects to make the house unsafe. Minor violations are also noted since they may lead to more serious problems. 2. A letter is sent to the property owner requesting the property owner to repair the violations in 15 - 30 days, depending on the seriousness of the violations. 3. If there is no compliance at the end of the designated period of time, the property owner is asked to appear before the Code Enforcement Hearing Officer. 4. At the hearing, a repair date is established with the property owner. 5. If the repairs are not made by that time, the case is referred to the Legal Department for legal action. Extension may be granted to property owners who have exhibited a will- ingness to rehabilitate their property. The primary goal of Code Enforcement is to ensure the health and safety of all South Bend's residents through a systematic, sensitive en- forcement of City ordinances. For more information, or to report a vio- lation, please contact the Department of Code Enforcement at 235 -9486, or visit www.southbendin.gov/code. . Clear. He rthe teWborhoYods Cut Costs and $ave Energy Summer is one of the biggest energy consuming times of the year. By making energy - efficient choices you can save electricity and money without giving up the comforts of home. ♦ Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluo- rescent bulbs. ♦ In the morning, turn your AC to a relatively cold setting to pre -cool your house, then turn it off before noon, making sure to pull down shades and blinds. In a well- insulated, modestly sized house, this simple act should allow you to coast through the hottest part of the day. If it doesn't, try to keep your thermostat setting no lower than 78 degrees. A room cooled to 75 degrees costs about 18 percent more than one cooled to 78. ♦ Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. ♦ Unplug seldom -used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that con- tains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill. Source: Natural Resources Defense Council S O U T H r B E N D i r i Propane Tank Warning There's a new target in the war against drugs, and it may be sitting under your grill. Methampheta- mine users are now using propane tanks to cook their drugs by emptying the propane and filling them with anhydrous ammonia. Once the drug users are done with the tanks, they return them to a propane ex- change facility, where they are re -filled with propane for the next user. When purchasing a propane tank, be cautious and examine the valve for any blue or green residue which is a sign that it has been in contact with anhy- drous ammonia. If you find that you have already pur- chased a tank with the residue, use extreme caution and call your local Fire Department, Hazardous Mate- rials Emergency Response Unit, or the nearest office of the United States Department of Justice's Drug En- forcement Administration (DEA) for information on properly disposing of the cylinder. For more information, please visit www. np2a .ore/i4a/t)a2es /index.cfm ?t)a2eid =529 or 1- 800 - 728 -2482. hisit Our Website at www SoutliBendIN.gov!