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The City of Hancock wants to do something to rid the city of blight.
Mayor Lisa McKenzie brought the issue up during the work session prior to Wednesday’s regular meeting in hopes of beginning a discussion that will lead to the cleaning up of some the city’s worst areas.
The city has a blight ordinance which addresses things such as outdoor furniture, grass cutting and junk cars and they can also review the International Property Maintenance Code’s section on blight.
City Manager Glenn Anderson said the city adopted a property maintenance code in 2015.
Enforcing the code is another matter—Anderson said the city does not have a code inspector at this time and letters to homeowners do not always provide results.
Those who do not follow through on correcting the issue could find themselves in Circuit Court.
He suggested the city identify the 12 worst locations and address those and then do another 12 the following year.
McKenzie said some of the biggest complaints they get are due to blight and it’s time the city put some money into resolving the issue and it may also alleviate some of the concerns over rental properties as well.
The council will direct the Community Development Committee to work in conjunction with the Planning Committee to recommend a course of action.
In other business, the city council approved the city’s proposed Master Plan for distribution and official public comment period, which will take place over 63 days.
