More rusty gutters???

Is there a double standard for property maintenance in Middletown?

By Ed Richter | Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 12:28 PM

In the past few weeks, the city of Middletown has sent out more 2,300 letters to residents concerning a wide number of property maintenance issues that code inspectors saw as they surveyed the city’s neighborhoods earlier this year.

The letters were sent to notify residents of issues on the exterior of their homes as well as on their properties and that they were to being asked to address them. The program is part of the city’s effort to address blight as well as improving its image.

Many residents are complying with the city’s request to address those issues raised and while some are angry, the properties are getting cleaned up through this soft approach that does not have a specific deadline, city officials have said.

But the question has been raised around town about how or what the city is doing to clean up the properties that it owns and is there a double standard being applied?

For the past few years, the issues at the Middletown Cemetery has been raised but not much has been done because of the city’s delicate finances.

City officials say there isn’t funding available in its 2009 budget to spend on repairs at the Middletown Cemetery to make a number of repairs to gravestones and the vault where some of the city’s founding families are supposed to be resting in peace.

However, that is not deterring the efforts of Vivian Moon, a local resident who has spent the last several years trying to improve the conditions of the cemetery that council declared historic in 2006.

Moon claims she has been promised some funding from city officials, but has not seen any appropriated. She has had enough and is about ready to file a complaint with the state of Ohio to force the city to take care of its obligations with the cemetery. In an email sent today, April 15 to The Journal, Moon said “if its WAR they want… then it will be WAR they shall get.”

Moon and City Manager Judy Gilleland are scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 16 to discuss the issue further.

At the April 7 meeting of Middletown City Council, 3rd Ward Councilman Tony Marconi said if the cemetery or vault were privately owned, the city would have them in court to get the place cleaned up.

“I’m ashamed that nothing’s been done and there’s no plan of action,” Marconi said during the council comments on April 7.

Marconi has exchanged email with Moon saying there needs to be “a short and long term plan of action for our cemetery. This plan must include the funding sources. After 60 years I do think we should have a plan in place!!! It is sad.”

Marconi also pointed out the city’s delicate financial situation and that it has to provide essential services.

Doug Adkins, interim community revitalization director, said the city is obliged to keep up with the cemetery’s maintenance issues but is not sure about the vault. He said the city is studying the costs of what to do with the structure that is on the verge of collapsing.

Adkins said the city is responsible for keeping its properties up to code as well and that the Public Works and Utilities Department has a list of properties of city-owned properties it has to keep up with for mowing, etc.

“We should be held to the same standards,” Adkins said.

What do you think? Is there a double standard at work or do you believe the city is also struggling like other residents trying to keep their properties up to the maintenance code?

Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Middletown

Well boys..I bet the City could use one of those low cost CDBG loans since it is in the low income 2nd ward and fix that little shack right up..