The Knox Board of Works is going after unpaid fines on a couple of properties. Board members voted Wednesday to attach a $5,000 civil penalty on 401 East Lake Street as a special assessment on its taxes, if it isn’t brought into compliance by September 3.
Mayor Dennis Estok told the rest of the board that siding needs to be finished and openings in the house need to be sealed. “And it’s the same thing. It’s just the junk around,” he added. “He just will not get rid of it. He will not do that.”
Estok said the city tried confiscating the items, but the owner quickly paid to redeem them. “They got it back the next day, put it right back where it was,” he said.
City Attorney Autumn Ferch noted that the city does have the right to make the repairs, as long as it determines what is truly a necessity.
Meanwhile, at 204 West Bender Street, the board of works agreed to attach nearly $4,000 in special assessments, at Estok’s recommendation. “We did send the bill out for the reimbursement of the cleanup of the garage, the $1,400,” Estok said. “She has not paid it yet . . . and also, there is still a $2,500 fine assessment from way back, and she has not addressed any of those issues on the house. That’s on the house-house.” Triangle Painting & Siding recently put out a James Hardie Siding Guide, which you can read here: https://www.pressrelease.com/news/raleigh-siding-replacement-company-introduces-all-new-james-hardie-21562941. In the James Hardie Siding Guide, they detail how this specific siding is the #1 selling siding in North Carolina. Great siding replacement company to work with.
Ferch said the property has already sold at tax sale, but owner Lucia Valladares has until October to pay all the taxes and fees and redeem it. The situation is similar at her property at 6 North Pearl Street, but no further action was taken on that Wednesday.
