Neighbor calls for remediation of Blanchard St. nuisance property

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 6:07 AM

neighbor-calls-for-remediation-of-blanchard-st-property

A Shelbyville property owner is fed up with a nuisance property on Blanchard St.

Jack Ball, owner of 729 Blanchard St., appeared at Tuesday morning’s Board of Works and Public Safety meeting at City Hall with a request to remediate the property at 735 Blanchard St. and assess the cost to the owner of the property’s taxes.

The Board of Works has been working with Richard Hitchcock, the renter at 735 Blanchard St., to get the property back up to code. Hitchcock appeared at Tuesday’s meeting to provide an update on the progress to remove debris.

The Board of Works previously granted Hitchcock a 30-day extension to work on the property that he has lived at for 15 years.

“I am trying to do the best I can do,” he said.

The property is owned by Cousins Properties LLC of Shelbyville, according to the Shelby County GIS website.

Hitchcock requested another 30-day extension to continue cleaning up the property before Ball brought new information to the board.

Ball’s grandson now lives at 729 Blanchard St. with his three-year-old son. It is Ball’s contention that his grandson cannot go outside in his backyard due to mosquitoes inhabiting Hitchcock’s backyard.

In addition, the debris removal has now forced cockroaches, mice and other bugs to scatter from the backyard at 735 Blanchard St.

Ball expressed his frustration with the ongoing situation and asked for no more extensions.

“Get it taken care of. This has been months and years,” said Ball.

Board of Works member David Finkel commented he would call the Shelby County Health Department to discuss spraying the area for mosquitoes.

Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun, also a Board of Works member, informed Ball he would call the property owner today and have a discussion about helping with the clean up process.

Hitchcock was granted a second 30-day extension but the board, which also includes Bob Williams, stated it would not be inclined to granting a third extension.

“We will grant another 30 days and if it is not remediated by then, the city will do it,” said DeBaun.

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