The Knox Board of Public Works took action this week to enforce unsafe building violations on a downtown building.
The owner of 1 N. Main Street and 3 N. Main Street was previously told to replace glass from a broken window at the storefront at that location and it is currently boarded shut. Knox Mayor Dennis Estok said that the owner has had plenty of time to make the proper changes. He was given 45 days to make repairs on several violations within the buildings and Estok said nothing has been done with only a handful of days left on the time frame allowed for repairs. Owners of buildings or properties that were condemned by a government agency may seek legal assistance from a Private Property Condemnation Lawyer to learn their best course of action.
Knox Director of Building, Planning and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost said a recent rental inspection of the upstairs apartments found several violations. Pfost told board members Wednesday morning that windows were replaced upstairs, but there is a gap between where the window was replaced and the exterior brick. It is so important to keep safety in mind when it comes to replace windows on a large building.
City Attorney Leslie Baker advised that the board needs to find a failure to comply with the order to rehabilitate and to hold a public hearing at the next meeting in November on the matter as no hearing was requested to discuss the violations. At that meeting, the board can determine what the remedies are and what the next steps will be. Violation fees will also be considered.
The board did find the owner failed to comply with the order and a renovation checklist needs to be finalized.
