During the Guest Presentation portion of yesterday evening’s Henderson City Council meeting, Henderson resident Jimmy Lawrence accused Henderson City Council member Elissa Yount of owning a dilapidated house.
Lawrence began his presentation by stating that there was “talk about zoning and rezoning”, but that the Council was not thinking about people on fixed incomes. He said people were not going to be able to pay their rent and be put out on the street.
“I know for a fact they’re barely making it,” Lawrence told the Council.
Lawrence then said that City Council members own dilapidated houses. Specifically, he cited a house on Williams Street. He claimed that the house has “floors falling in”.
Lawrence claimed that the house was brought to the attention of the City Council three years ago and “she” came down on him about his building, not referring to Yount by name.
The Henderson resident said that “she” did a little cosmetic work.
Lawrence said that everyone wants to pick on the landlords. Stating that owners should have “some say-so”, Lawrence called for everyone to be treated fairly. He argued that City Council members’ houses should be inspected first and brought up to minimum standards.
“I’ve seen a lot of things going on in this town,” Lawrence said. “I feel like City Council meetings have been held at other people’s houses instead of City Council. I don’t know about it, but I hear there’ve been some pictures taken of City Council members going to other people’s houses.
“I think something needs to be done other than what’s been done. Not pushing stuff down other people’s throats without cleaning up your own backyard first.”
Council member Lynn Harper stated that if Lawrence had pictures that she wished he would bring them forward.
“Did I say I have some pictures?” Lawrence replied. “I said I thought there were some pictures.”
“Oh, I see,” Harper said. “You don’t have any pictures.”
Lawrence revealed he had pictures of the house. He then distributed pictures of the property in question on Williams Street. The only evidence of dilapidation showed by the photographs was a broken attic window.
Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert asked Lawrence if he was referring to the Certificate of Occupancy ordinance.
Lawrence replied that he was talking about dilapidated houses.
Yount said that she thought that Lawrence was at the meeting to “wave a red flag in [her] face”. She stated that she thought Lawrence was trying to undermine her credibility as a Council member and what the Council is doing for safe housing in the City.
Yount informed Lawrence that the house in question is not used for habitation by humans and is not “held out” for use as habitation for humans. She advised Lawrence that no person had occupied the house since 30 days after she acquired ownership of it in the early 1990’s.
Yount said that she did not know that the window in the attic was out and that something would be done about it.
The Council member went on to say that the house was vacant but not abandoned. She also stated that it is not rental property. Reading from City code, she stated that the building does not constitute a threat to the health, safety, morals, or welfare of the municipality in which it is in and will not continue to deteriorate. She added that it is not a fire hazard, a safety hazard, a threat to children, does not attract persons intent on criminal activities, and does not contribute to deterioration of property values in the neighborhood.
Yount went on to say that the house sits on a non-conforming lot. She stated that if the house is occupied, the population density greatly impacts the neighborhood. She claimed that the City and the neighborhood put up with adverse conditions when the house was occupied.
Yount stated that on March 20 she inquired of the City what the process was for a house for which no Certificate of Occupancy is sought. She said that response was that if the house meets the minimum exterior housing requirement it does not require an inspection.
The Council member said that the City has a right to inspect the property and she hopes that it will. She claimed that it had everything necessary to pass inspection with the possible exception of the attic window.
“I’m not going to lose my positive focus for housing in this city,” Yount told Lawrence. “My long-term objective is to move forward. Your public criticism is, I think, undermined by another agenda which I accept, and I accept your criticism. If the house does not meet minimum exterior requirements it will be fixed.”
Yount later stated that if the house were torn down, “that would be great”. She said it would “set the standard” for the City.