Live Breaking News & Updates on Village Scraps Dilapidated Property Ordinance

For The Times Leader
BELMONT Village Council decided to discard an ordinance aimed at abatement of hazardous buildings in the village, opting instead to use the Ohio Revised Code to go after property owners who allow structures to deteriorate and become unsafe.
At the request of Mayor Ron Woods and council, Village Solicitor T.J. Schultz had drafted the ordinance. He used as a guide one that has been successful in the nearby village of Barnesville to abate dangerous structures while giving the village the means of recovering money spent to do so through tax liens.
While the first two readings of the ordinance took place during the February and March council meetings, it was revealed April 1 that Fire Chief Bob Mills, who would be responsible for determining which structures met the criteria outlined in the ordinance, was uncomfortable with the legislation due to liability concerns. During that council meeting, Mayor Woods said officials had since learned there alread ....

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