Eight Fannin Properties Up for Condemnation at Commissioners Meeting

Fannin County Land Development Authority will submit eight properties for condemnation at the Sept. 27^th meeting.  Some properties have been awaiting condemnation for more than a year.  The Authority submitted these properties at the Aug. 23^rd meeting, but the Commissioners tabled making a decision about them.

At the Sept. 13^th meeting, residents of Salem Road petitioned the Commissioners to condemn 2601 Salem Road.  This is one of the properties up for vote at the meeting.

Marie Woody, Chief Land Development Officer, described the condemnation process.  The Land Development Authority registers complaints and sends two county building inspectors out to investigate the property.  The inspectors have a list of features to grade like floor system, roof covering, plumbing, electricity, and yard condition.  “We condemn houses by how they look,” said Woody. Not only are the properties eyesores, they are places for vagrants to hang out and can cause serious injury to curious explorers like children continued Woody.  Some of the properties have had the property tax continuously paid up; others have not.

Once the Commissioners vote to condemn a property, the owner receives a notice and 90 days to clear the property by his or her own means.  Some properties can be condemned for emergency measures.  Owners also pay a $500 fine per offense and $50 per day for each day beyond the initial 90 that the property is not cleared.  If the owner refuses, the county can come in and clean up the property.  The County Attorney draws up a contract to cover the county’s cost and whether a lien against the property or a law suit will return expenses to the county.

The Land Development Authority can bring condemnations in front of the Commissioners at any time.  It just so happens that there is a group of eight up for condemnation at this time.

Below are pictures of other properties that make up the Land Development Authority’s list.