Toronto Council looks at property issues
Trending
TORONTO -- Toronto Council was faced with whether to accept a donation of property in the Wallace Heights area while considering the adoption of an international building code to deter or address dilapidated structures.
At Monday's meeting, First Ward Councilman Bob Bertram said members of the Franke family have offered to donate to the city 1.35 acres just off James Way for the development of a playground.
Bertram said three people have offered to donate a total of $4,500 for the project and he could work to establish a fund for it.
The suggestion raised some questions among other council members, including whether the city would be required to establish a park on the lot, if funding became an issue, and within a limited timeframe.
Asked how much the playground may cost, Bertram said it could be $10,000, possibly higher.
Mayor John Parker said the cost would "depend on what you're trying to accomplish -- swing sets, a shelter, picnic tables?"
Asked what residents there wanted, Bertram said, "Just a playground for the kids, nothing more elaborate than that."
He said earlier the Franke family and others have suggested the playground because there is a growing number of children in the Wallace Heights area, which is separated from the rest of the city by state Route 7.
Parker suggested an engineer could look at the site, considering the feasibility of various features and determining any underground utilities or potential hazards that could affect plans for a park.
He said that approach has been taken when planning parks in the past.
Councilman at large Larry Glenn added an engineer could project costs for various features.
Fourth Ward Councilman Greg Herrick, who chairs the recreation committee, said, "I think that's fair, to get an assessment before we take the property."
Council agreed to authorize Parker to approach an engineer that has worked with the city with that prospect.
In other business, Herrick said he's received multiple complaints about deteriorating buildings in their neighborhoods.
He added he knows other council members have, too, and asked what can be done.
Parker said while the city has ordinances addressing high grass and other public nuisances and health hazards, it's lacking in regulations for structural issues.
The mayor said he and Council President Frank McEwen have discussed the International Property Maintenance Code as something the city could adopt.
McEwen added it's something that's also been mulled by the city's planning and zoning board.
The code was developed in 1998 by members of the International Code Council -- Building Officials and Code Administrators International Inc. "to establish minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of health, safety, property protection and general welfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures and premises."
Parker said the code also outlines a process through which property owners may be notified and given time to remedy violations.
Council agreed to consider adoption of the code at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 11.
In other business:
≤ Council approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Health Department to provide certain services through a satellite office at the City Building.
Parker confirmed he was able to negotiate a lesser fee for the services, reducing it from $26,515 to $22,749, without affecting the office's services or hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Monday.
Its services include investigation of public nuisances, such as illegal dumping or issues involving vermin or sewage; nutrition and breastfeeding education through the Women, Infants and Children program; flu vaccinations, immunizations for children, testing for sexually transmitted infections and sports physicals for youth.
Most services are free or are covered by visitors' insurance coverage.
Walk-ins to the office are welcome, but appointments are encouraged, particularly for vaccinations and immunizations, and can be made by calling (740) 283-8530.
≤ City Fire Chief Bill Scheel confirmed the city's fire department and TEMS Joint Ambulance District were among more than 30 area emergency departments that responded to a fire at the W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton Saturday night.
Scheel said since it was closed earlier this summer, the plant is without water and that's why multiple tankers were called to the scene.
But he said the fire was quickly contained and no one was injured.
Following the meeting, Scheel said security personnel at the plant had evacuated unharmed. He said the fire appeared to have originated from a blown breaker and spread to insulation and coal dust between floors of the complex.