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CITY OF MUSKEGON
MUSKEGON HOUSING BOARD OF APPEALS
MEETING MINUTES
December 1, 2016
Board Chair, G. Borgman, called the meeting to order at 5:34 pm.
ATTENDANCE: B. Arthur, G. Borgman, K. Kolberg, W. Krick, R. Mackie, E. Simmons
ABSENT: B. Turnquist, excused; S. Ferguson, excused
STAFF: H. Mitchell, K. Briggs, J. Lewis, L. Parker
MINUTES:
A motion to approve the regular meeting minutes from the October 6, 2016 meeting was made by R.
Mackie, supported by E. Simmons; unanimously supported.
OLD BUSINESS:
EN130182 — 1780 Jarman — Linda Jones, 1676 Pine, Muskegon, MI 49442. K. Ware (sister of Linda
Jones) stated that the drywall is complete and painted; outside lighting and electrical outlets are complete
as well as the water heater installation. A permit would need to be obtained for a pressure test before the
furnace could be completed and the gas turned on. It should be finaled by the next meeting in January.
Inspections were scheduled for 12/6/16 for the other permits.
K. Ware did provide pictures at the meeting for the board to review what had been accomplished. The board
directed her to work with K. Briggs of SAFEbuilt to get the necessary permits and inspections completed.
The board did ask about the garage. K. Ware stated that they were looking at either demolishing it or
painting it; but if they paint, it won’t be until it warms up so the paint will adhere.
A motion was made to table this case until the January 2017 meeting, unless all items are completed before
that meeting, was made by R. Mackie, supported by E. Simmons and unanimously approved.
EN140138 — 1153 Pine — Brenda Daniels, 944 E Sextant Rd, Muskegon, MI 49441. B. Daniels stated that
the porch was complete and the siding had been installed to the rear of the home. Plumbing, heat and electric
should be done in December. Insulation needs to be installed in the roof. She is aware that the taxes are
delinquent to the County Treasurer. The garage roof still needs to be repaired. She stated that the roofer had
told her that it would take 10 days to roof the house and then he would be able to start on the garage roof.
A motion was made to table this case until the February 2017 meeting was made by B. Arthur, supported
by R. Mackie and unanimously approved.
EN157069 — 1451 Park — Lance Walker, 1520 6th St. Apt. 1, Muskegon, MI 49442. L. Walker stated that
due to a personal emergency they were unable r. Walker could not get all the repairs done. A permit has
been pulled for electrical and it should be started within a few days. The front and furnace also have to be
done, then the plumbing. Taxes are still delinquent and he said it is not a problem to pay. Kirk Briggs said
the repairs could be done within 60 days.
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A motion was made to table this case until the February, 2017 meeting was made by E, Simmons, supported
by W. Krick; unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
EN1607759 — 768 Marcoux -- Adam Winters, 768 Marcoux, Muskegon, MI 49442. A. Winters stated that
while working on the inside of the home; a garbage truck ripped the power line out in the early winter of
2015. He has been in conversations with the power company and the garbage company to get power lines
fixed and the service restored. The cost to get the power restores on his own would be $3,000 - $4,000;
unfortunately, he doesn’t have the funds to do this.
W. Krick stated that based on the work that would be needed on just the exterior and the pictures; he wasn’t
sure if the repairs would be financially feasible. The members concurred their concerns that this repair job
could be too much to handle for Mr. Winters or anyone in similar circumstances, especially since he’s had
the house on a land contract for approximately five years. K. Briggs has been to the property and things are
only getting worse, with no work done in the last two years. He said if permits are pulled and no work is
done, then citations would be issued. G. Borgman and J. Lewis explained to Mr. Winters the process should
the board declare this dangerous building. Should the board declare this; then it would go before the first
City Commission meeting in January, 2017. If the City Commission concurs with their findings he would
have 21 days to file for Superintending Control to stop the City’s actions. He would have to obtain an
attorney who would work with the City’s Attorney and an escrow would be required to be in place of
approximately $10,000 - $15,000. He would need additional finds to do the repairs. If the repairs aren’t
done within a specified timeframe, the City would use the escrow funds to demolish the building. Should
the repairs be completed; then the escrowed money would be returned to him; but it cannot be used while
in escrow for the repairs. A. Winters stated he would do some research before the City Commission meeting.
A motion to declare the structure, substandard, dangerous and a public nuisance was made by W. Krick,
supported by R. Mackie and unanimously approved.
EN1607738 — 1290 Wood — Hope Lighthouse Church, 2731 Peck St, Muskegon, MI 49444, The board
members were provided with the information. There has been no contact by the owner or interested
parties for this property with staff.
A motion to declare the structure, substandard, dangerous and a public nuisance was made by E. Simmons,
supported by W. Krick and unanimously approved.
EN1607760 — 1456 Park — Barbara Gamble, 623 Dickinson St SE #1, Grand Rapids, MI 49507 or 6220
Fowler, Twin Lake, MI. 49457. The board members were provided with the information. There has been no
contact by the owner or interested parties for this property with staff.
A motion to declare the structure, substandard, dangerous and a public nuisance was made by E. Simmons,
supported by W. Krick and unanimously approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
Kirk Briggs introduced a new SAFEbuilt Building Inspector, Art.
The board members were updated on the Kirksey Property and some of the other demolitions. They were
provided with a list of all the properties from 2016 that went before the board for declaring and/or were
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demolished by the property owner, City, and as part of the Blight Fight Grant that the City had been
awarded. The listing also included a summary of board ups.
J. Lewis explained to the board how staff is working to make sure that if a building is declared for
demolition; the City will be able to follow through with the demolition. In the past, the lack of funds had
made it harder to demolish the more costly structures (i.e. commercial or industrial). This will save on the
board having to re-hear cases and they will hear the cases that are slated to be followed through on. He
provided an example of howa structure that is commercial/industrial in nature would have the approximate
cost of having around a dozen or more residential structures.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 pm.
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