PARKER — Council members now have a mechanism in place for when the city begins collecting clean-up fees on nuisance properties through property tax bills.
Parker officials unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the Bay County Tax Collector to place the actual cost for “nuisance abatement,” or cleaning up properties posing a threat to public health or safety, on tax bills.
Mayor Richard Musgrave said without a nuisance abatement fee, the city would have no recourse in collecting public funds spent to clean properties that may devalue neighboring homes.
“When we put a lien on a property, it could sit there forever unless they foreclose or the property is sold and the lien is satisfied,” Musgrave said. “… It’s to take care of eyesores we haven’t been able to get the property owners to take care of, because it’s affecting all the surrounding properties.”
Though Parker knows of about $90,000 in outstanding liens, city officials have not identified how much could be recouped from a nuisance abatement fee. The city does not expect to have those funds identified until 2015 tax bills are issued.
The agreement is set to commence July 1 and would automatically renew each year on Jan. 1. The Tax Collector charges a 2 percent handling fee of total assessments levied each year.
Golf Carts
Musgrave, later in the meeting, opened the floor for discussion of allowing golf carts on city streets, but a majority of the council resoundingly rejected the idea.
“We have a state highway (U.S. 98) that divides Parker,” said Councilman Michael Miller. “They already use them and we don’t allow it. If we allowed it, they would be crossing the highway all the time and that’s a really dangerous avenue.”
Council members heard a resident’s request during their previous meeting to consider allowing golf carts in Donalson Point, an isolated area of the city. But the council did not agree with favoring one area of the city.
“I’m not in favor of doing something for one area and not another,” said Councilman Ken Jones.
One council member rejected the idea for pragmatic reasons.
“If it’s not tagged and insured, it doesn’t belong on the road,” said Councilman John Haney.
Council members also:
– Approved bank financing for up to $124,000 at 1.9 percent interest to purchase a new debris removal truck and declared an inoperable truck surplus property.
– Approved new language and definitions in the city’s land development regulations.