New door hangers will streamline the violations process
KINGWOOD — Kingwood Council discussed controlling storm water and continued issues with dilapidated buildings at its meeting this week.
Councilwoman Karen Kurilko said she, City Clerk Michelle Whetsell and Rhonda Ridenour of the city office designed a new “door hanger” that they think will streamline the process for informing residents of violations of the rubbish, grass, junk cars and other ordinances, and lead to better enforcement.
The cardboard hangers will now include more information on the alleged violation and include two carbon copies. One copy will be given to the property owner, one to the police and one to the city office.
“We’d have a better paper trail, and I think it would eliminate some of the issues where we were not following through and dropped the ball,” Whetsell said.
Police will follow up with citations if the situation isn’t corrected, Kurilko said. All the deadlines to address situations are set by code.
Shaffer Printing will do 500 of the door hangers for $98. The cost will be balanced by the city no longer issuing certified letters to violators, some of whom refused to accept them.
Drainage issues
Bruce Wiley, a former councilman, discussed an issue with a storm water pipe. He presented a letter from former city supervisor Nelson Corbin, saying that the pipe was to take water from an alley to the woods behind a house on Walsh Drive. But the pipe was 110 feet short when installed, so city crews covered it, Wiley said.
Wiley did not know when the work was done. This is just to finish the job, he said. Recorder Bill Robertson said council’s policy is not to go on private property with city equipment.
Wiley told Robertson “you’ve been singing the same song and dance ever since I was on this council.” Robertson agreed, saying “I do that for everybody instead of picking the good old boys to take care of … I treat everybody fair.”
Kurilko asked if records could be checked to see what was supposed to be done? Wiley said his letter showed what was done. Councilman Dick Shaffer said he thought the city should “finish the job.”
Mayor Jean Guillot said he didn’t think the city should go on private property without approval. Council adopted Councilwoman Tina Turner’s suggestion that the city clerk find out who gave the city a sewer line right of way in the area of the pipe.
That way the city could request a right of way for the storm water pipe. The matter will be on the next agenda.
Council also:
- hired Ryan Deal as a police officer. He will start at $15.50 per hour after passing all required physical and psychological tests. Deal will bring the city’s force to four officers.
- agreed city offices will begin accepting debit cards to pay for building permits, reserving parks and other fees. The company handling the payments will charge a minimum fee of $2.75 and $2.75% for all amounts over $73.
- agreed to buy a new garbage truck for $178,950. It will replace a 2007 model packer truck. Councilman Mike Lipscomb and Robertson voted against the purchase. Robertson said he would prefer to know if the state will approve a proposed garbage rate hike before buying the truck.
- heard from Lynn Housner, Independent candidate for county commissioner, who presented the points of his platform.
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