The Mineral County Building Safety Enforcement Agency held its organizational meeting as the newly-appointed members gathered to take action on several citizen complaints concerning structures being a “threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.”
The six-member Building Safety board consists of Everett Metheny, president of the group, who serves as the chief of the Short Gap Volunteer Fire Company; Andrew Root, vice president and the county health officer; Scott Clay, secretary and the county planner, permit enforcement officer, and flood plain manager; Melissa Kidwell, county litter control officer; along with James Dolly and Delmas Evans, both members-at-large.
Clay gave an overview of the events leading to the establishment of the Building Enforcement group, saying that at the urging of West Virginia governor Joe Manchin, the State Legislature passed a bill granting county commissions the authority to “enact an ordinance regulating abandoned and dilapidated buildings.”
He said that many months ago, a committee comprised of 20 members met on a temporary basis to discuss how Mineral County could deal with its more unsightly structures.
This particular group was known as Clean Up the County Committee and was chaired by the Rev. Dan Stemple.
After a period of about six-months, the Clean Up Committee produced a workable ordinance, patterned after the one in place in Raleigh County, and because the purpose of the committee was completed, it was disbanded.
The ordinance was presented to the Mineral County Commission and gained their approval in March 2008, and part of the ordinance was the formation of the Building Safety Enforcement Agency.
Clay mentioned that the ordinance applies to all private property located in the “county’s unincorporated areas,” while the municipalities possess the authority to draft their own ordinance regarding abandoned and dilapidated structures within the town’s jurisdiction.
The ordinance will not apply to property owned by the federal, state, or local government.
Clay said that if citizens wish to complain about particular properties,  a form must be filled out. The form is available at the county planner’s office.
The property will then be investigated, along with photos taken by a representative of the agency, and at the next scheduled meeting of the group, the matter will be discussed.
Following the discussion of the complaint, four choices are to be used to determine what action needs to be taken to remedy the situation.
The complaint may be dropped, continue further investigation, secure an agreement with the property owner on corrective steps for the situation, or because of the property’s condition, determine that it should be “repaired, altered, improved, vacated, closed, cleaned up, or demolished.”
“We will use a common sense approach and investigate each complaint,” said Commissioner Wayne Spiggle about the agency.
Clay reported that the first citizen’s complaint was registered several months ago in the Crestwood area, and “it was resolved within a week.”
Two additional cases are now being analyzed: One structure located in Patterson Creek, near the community fire hall.
With over 30 signatures on the complaint form, Clay noted that the property is a “potential hazard.”
He also reported that the owner of the property, who resides in Maryland, is presently in the process of obtaining a demolition permit for the structure.
An additional investigation has begun on a lot in Pownell’s Paradise Subdivision where, according to Clay, there is a “usable house.” The yard of the structure has overgrown vegetation, broken glass, remnants of a blown over carport, rusted, jagged metal, an abundance of poison ivy, and several abandoned vehicles.
Because the owner lives out of the area, the address will be secured through the county‘s tax records.
Once an address is known, a certified letter will be sent to the owner, with information on what action will be taken at the next Building Safety Enforcement meeting.