Staff Writer

Nov. 15, 2000 10 PM

Three more eyesores are coming down after action taken by the Troy City Council.

Tuesday night, the council passed a resolution regarding the removal of the dilapidated buildings at 417 Walters Street and Lots 14 and 15, Madison Alley.

At its last meeting, the council declared the three buildings as "unsafe" as the first step. Because the notified property owners had taken no action to have the dilapidated buildings removed, the city is using authority granted by the Alabama Legislature to do something.

Now, the city can remove the buildings at a cost not to exceed $7,500 and access the cost to the property owners’ taxes.

Action taken by the council was made possible when it adopted Article 2 of the Code of Alabama, which outlines how municipalities can remove unsafe buildings.

First, the city must determine the structure unsafe and send notification to the owner.

If the property owner does not respond to the letter or file a written appeal within 30 days upon notice, the city can raze the building and assess the cost against the property. That money is collected by the Pike County revenue commissioner just like an ad valorem tax and will be remitted to the city of Troy. City officials also post a notice on the structure within three days of the notice.

Since turning the state authority into action, several structures have been removed in the city limits.

In other business, the council:

· Took action to restrict taps of any kind into the proposed force main for the Walnut Creak Treatment Plant.

The city is in the process of developing an effluent pump station and force main which will be paid for with economic development funds. One of the conditions of the grant included covenants and restrictions by the city, banning taps to the proposed force main.

· Annexed an acre on Old U.S. Highway 231 into the city limits per the request of William Lockley who had been under the impression the property was in the city limits when he purchased it.

· Was reminded of the Christmas parade which will roll through downtown at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 27.