Goodrich – Citing a potential safety hazard for the community, village officials say an abandoned party store is one step closer to being either repaired or demolished.
The Family Party Store, owned by Chris Valente and located at 8186 S. State Road, has been closed since a fire on Dec.14, 2003. Little repair work has been done to the building since that time.
‘This issue has been out there for a long time,? Council President Ed York said at November 13’s council meeting.
Council members said many in the community had come to regard the structure as a blight, though York said to the best of his knowledge, no formal complaints had been filed.
‘We have an ordinance officer that has written letters and tried to do many different things (to address the problem),? he said. ‘We never received any answer (from Valente) that I’m aware.?
Village attorney Thomas McKenny gave council instruction on the necessary steps to address the situation.
Acting on McKenny’s advice, council unanimously voted to adopt the Michigan Housing Law, and designated Village Building Inspector Matt Place as local enforcer of that law.
‘You are now armed,? McKenny told council.
Place will conduct an inspection of the building and report his findings during a hearing, overseen by a hearing officer. The hearing officer will likely be selected from Flint-based Wade Trim Engineering.
‘We want someone with experience that is going to make that decision,? said York.
Testimony as to the state of the structure provided by Place will be followed by his recommendation as to whether the building should be repaired or demolished.
Council will then either over rule or affirm the recommendation of the building inspector, giving Valente 60 days to abide by the ruling or 20 days to appeal the decision in circuit court.
If Valente fails to take action in those 60 days, McKenny said council will be authorized to hire someone to do the work on his behalf and obtain reimbursement by way of a lean put on the property.
‘Even if there are some other issues out there, that person has a responsibility, and it doesn’t seem to me he’s living up to that responsibility,? York said.
Valente could not be located for comment.