Agenda Packets - 1997/10/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Letter to Leona Lodmill 2349 Laport Drive October 15, 1997 • Page 2 On our inspection of the interior of your home, we were astonished at the amount and extensive nature of the clutter and debris in what seemed to be every room of the main level. Because of the debris in the dining room, access to the upper level of the home via the stairway is not possible. It appears that the bedroom(s) on the main level are also inaccessible due to the debris. The kitchen area, overwhelmed by an extensive collection of clutter, stacked dishes and food containers, is practically unusable, although there did not appear to be any significant levels of garbage, rotting food or unwashed dishes to constitute a public health nuisance in the opinion of the St. Paul -Ramsey County Department of Public Health. The Mounds View City Code does, however, address interior sanitation standards. Section 1005.07, Subd. 5 states that interiors shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, free of rubbish, garbage,junk and debris and no materials shall be stored in a manner that impedes free access to any window or door. Due to the debris and junk present in your home, only the kitchen, living room and bathroom can satisfy this provision--the upper level is completely inaccessible. The resolution to abate your property will not include any requirements for the interior of your home, even though it is clear that numerous violations are present. Instead, I would like to propose an alternative solution for your home's interior. Over the years, numerous members of the community have come forward expressing a desire to help you clean the property. The City could help coordinate a volunteer crew to "give you back your home" by removing the junk and debris that has taken over. While we have not checked into this possibility, a large-volume dumpster could be brought to your property at a discounted rate or even at no cost to you in which to dispose of the junk and debris inside and outside the home. Give some serious thought to this idea—let your neighbors, concerned residents, church members and others help clean your house. The City will discuss this option at the Council meeting and solicit assistance from the community. We are all concerned about your health and well-being; a clean house certainly would contribute to a healthier life. In terms of the building code violations present on the exterior of you home (see the attached memo from the City's Seasonal Inspector), there are programs available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) and Ramsey County that would allow you to make the needed repairs to your home at little or no cost to you. From what you have expressed at Council meetings, your adjusted annual household income would qualifyyou for either the MHFA or County deferred loan of up to $10,000, for which there would be no payments or accrued interest. I have enclosed the brochures explaining these programs for you. To apply, simply call the numbers listed. The City can assist you in this process as well by contacting the agencies for you—all you need do is ask. If the City Council does approve the resolution to abate your property, the City would then contact an outside abatement firm to haul away the exterior nuisance code violations. Before this110 occurs, I would be willing to contact area service organizations (such as the Northwest Youth and