By Gary Nelson / gnelson@crossville-chronicle.com
Members of the Cumberland County Health and Safety Standards Board decided Tuesday evening to proceed by sending letters to property owners who have had complaints filed against them and the condition of their properties.
Properties and owners that were discussed and reviewed by the committee included:
•3999 Highland Lane — Gerald and Angela Hood. The board voted unanimously to send a second letter.
•4985 Hwy. 70 N. — Gertie Marie Shepherd. The board voted unanimously to send a first letter to them.
•Leisurebrook II, lot 32, a subdivision in Lake Tansi. The home is on Sitting Bull Dr. and is property is owned by John Bess. The board voted unanimously to send a first letter.
The letter informs the property owner that a complaint has been filed and allows the property owner 30 days to respond and to begin cleaning up or repairing the property.
"We'd like people to understand what we do with this board and for people to understand we are not out to take away properties, but for the betterment and safety of the community," said board member John Kinnunen.
The committee meets monthly and is an appointed board of the Cumberland County Commission that was established in December 2005.
In order to come under the jurisdiction of the Health and Safety Standards Board, a home must be dilapidated, abandoned and a complaint must be filed and signed by three surrounding property owners within 150 yards of the home.
The board does not identify properties meeting the health and safety criteria, but responds to complaints filed by citizens living near the vacant and dilapidated properties.
Residents are to first file a complaint with the county, which is then forwarded to the board for consideration.
The board has an inspector visit the property, take photos and submit the information to the committee regarding the condition of the property. The board then determines if a letter of violation is in order to be sent to the property owner asking them either to correct the problems or advising them that the county will take action to make the necessary corrections.
The Health and Safety Standards Board is empowered to deal only with vacant and dilapidated properties posing a health and/or safety hazard to the community.
Health and Safety Standards Board members include Cumberland County residents Bob Atchley, Larry Henson, Randy Brown, Fred Robison and John Kinnunen.
