Aug 28, 2002 3 min read

Connellsville’s mayor met this week with members of the health board and the redevelopment authority to discuss using a portion of the city’s block grant to raze deteriorated structures. Although all three agencies are looking out for the public’s safety, they have somewhat conflicting interests in what should be attacked and how it should be done.

The health department’s task is to develop a hit list of vacant structures that pose an imminent threat. It needn’t look at who owns the buildings nor the costs of demolition, simply what is needed to protect the public’s health.

The redevelopment authority, which administers the city’s grant, must make sure it is spent properly and that includes cautioning council that there are strings attached to demolition.

The mayor and council discussed the responsibility of property owners in paying either up front or through liens to remove blight, a worthy goal worth pursuing, but not if the city is using block grant funds.

As redevelopment authority executive director Ralph Wombacker cautioned, if the city intends to place liens against the properties, it can’t use the grant. The program does not allow it. Mayor Judy Reed seems just as adamant that the city shouldn’t pay when the owners have the money to do it themselves.

For this reason, Reed and city council would be wise to develop and enact a comprehensive program that not only eliminates blight but addresses buildings before reaching this crisis.

Connellsville, similar to most communities in Fayette County, has lacked a strong code enforcement program that quickly spots trouble.

Ideally, the city should aim to work with property owners to correct deficiencies and then have a step-by-step program in place to deal with those who jeopardize the public’s health and safety.

The city can, and should look into, filing citations with the district justice in order to force compliance, and as a last resort to demolish blight and then file liens against the property to recoup the funds.

There are times when these steps will fail and no amount of threats, fines, cajoling or threats of liens will convince an unscrupulous landholder of a responsibility to keep vacant structures from becoming infested with rats, a fire hazard or even a death trap for curious children bent on exploring.

These are the times that the city could quickly step in with funds such as are available from its Community Development Block Grant. By adopting a strong code enforcement program, Connellsville will be able to readily make the distinction.