PADUCAH — McCracken County Fiscal Court had a first reading of two new ordinances related to property maintenance enforcement during Monday’s meeting.
The first proposed ordinance would establish a code enforcement board and describes the code enforcement proceedings. The second proposed ordinance would repeal and replace the junked motor vehicle and property code maintenance ordinances.
McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer said the fiscal court has not previously focused on the issue of run-down properties, specifically ones containing burnt down homes, stripped motor homes, excessive trash, and junked vehicles.
The code enforcement board would deal with property code violators and provide them with due process, as opposed to the county’s district court, which previously handled code violations.
If a property owner receives a citation for a code violation, they would have 10 days to appeal it with the code enforcement board. If they are unhappy with the board’s decision, they could appeal it with the district court.
If the property owner does not appeal the code enforcement board’s decision, they will issue a fine, and the county could then abate the property. The fine for a first offense could be up to $500, and a second offense could be up to $1,000.
McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer said the fiscal court has not previously focused on the issue of run-down properties, specifically ones containing burnt down homes, stripped motor homes, excessive trash, and junked vehicles.
“We get calls every now and then from people wanting us to take some action to enforce, you know, what ordinance we did have,” Clymer said.
He believes the proposed ordinance will help the county enforce the property code and encourage property owners to clean up their properties.
“I think we’re really solid on this and really want to get after enforcing this very soon,” Clymer said. “I think we will start seeing some real action on cleaning up properties that really need to be done.”
McCracken County Commissioner Bill Bartleman said the fiscal court’s focus on dealing with property maintenance and violations will be one of the most important things that they have accomplished.
“I really think that this is going to be a major accomplishment for this fiscal court to do that,” Bartleman said.
McCracken County Commissioner Richard Abraham emphasized the county’s position to set a fair property maintenance code.
“Everything in there is, there is a reasonable expectation of folks taking care of their property,” Abraham said.
The code enforcement board members will be compensated $200 for each meeting. The county is still working on a timeline for establishing the board, but Clymer said it will be “soon.”
The McCracken County Extension chose to increase its tax revenue, and its property tax rate will be $0.048 this year.
During the meeting, the fiscal court approved tax rates for various county entities.
One organization, the McCracken County Extension, chose to increase its tax revenue, and its property tax rate will be $0.048 this year.
One organization, the McCracken County Public Library, chose to decrease its tax rate, and its property tax rate will be $0.056 this year.
The McCracken County Public Library, chose to decrease its tax rate, and its property tax rate will be $0.056 this year.
Eight organizations chose to keep the same tax rates as last year, including the McCracken County Health Department, Concord Fire, Four Rivers Behavioral Health, Lone Oak Fire, Reidland Farley Fire, Hendron Fire, Melber New Hope Fire, and West McCracken Fire.
McCracken County Fiscal Court decided to take the compensating rate, increasing its tax revenue by 4%. The county property tax rate will be 0.106 this year.
Also during the meeting, the fiscal court proposed adding a dog park in Reidland near the Reidland Community Center off of Park Road. The property would be about half an acre and include a bench, concrete pad, fenced in grass area, double gate, and dog fountain. The estimated cost is $21,000.