Owners of damaged blighted buildings or property in Sumpter Township unable or unwilling to repair or maintain the structures could find themselves facing court proceedings.
Members of the Sumpter Township Board of Trustees approved revised language to the current blight ordinance, allowing township officials to take legal action against owners of blighted properties in the community.
Township attorney Rob Young requested the new ordinance language explaining that the township needed an ordinance in place to allow the police department to take legal action against owners who refuse or are unable to repair or maintain blighted properties in violation of current standards in the township.
Enforcement duties for properties determined to be blighted were transferred to the police department last year and officers have been attempting to move unsightly buildings into ordinance compliance or if unsuccessful, seek demolition of the structure.When efforts to return properties to compliance with local ordinances are exhausted, township officials can now seek official action through the court. Young said changes to the current blight ordinance were necessary to ensure the township can take “injunctive, equitable relief” at the district court when buildings need to be razed against resistance of the owners. He added that it had come to his attention that changes were needed to ensure the township could take legal action and seek injunctive relief from “those who for periods of time can play with the law.”
“We just need an ordinance that recognizes our opportunity to seek equitable relief,” Young told the board members.
Young said the changes were necessary to allow police officers to proceed in the demolition of blighted buildings. He told the board members that while ordinance officers are “moving deliberately and diligently down that road” changes to the current ordinance allowing the township to take legal action were necessary.
Young asked for the changes to be placed on the meeting agenda and for approval of the new language during the meeting.
The new language, crafted by Young during the March 28 meeting, was approved by board members.
