Logan Fire Chief Scott Beckett had some good news for the City Council on April 14.

Beckett said the city council planned on adopting a building and fire code which would give it the authority to enforce fire safety and appearance requirements.

Property maintenance requirements are a part of the building code, Beckett explained.

"So you won't be able to leave trash on your property, or abandoned cars, or let your grass grow four feet high," Beckett said. "We spent three days in the fire code class with 25 other municipalities. You will no longer be able to leave old burnt out structures the way they are."

First reading on the code was held April 14.

"As long as I have been involved with the city, we have talked about ways to address the issue of these abandoned and dilapidated buildings," Councilman Jim Guy said. "Now we can take some action."

Guy said fines and fees could be pooled to be used for cleanups.

City Attorney Kendal Partlow said the building code and fire code would be fair and would offer violators the opportunity to get into compliance or to appeal the decisions. Partlow said the city's older code had to be overhauled.

"We put some teeth in it," Partlow noted, explaining fines will be no less than $100 and no more than $1000 for violations. "There is an appeals process with a board of appeals," he added. "It is fair and we will give people an opportunity to get in compliance. The fire code has to be overseen by an administrator.'

Mayor Nolletti said a new division for code enforcement will be set in place by the fire department. A second reading of the code will be coming later. The first reading was approved.

The announcement came after a resident of the Slabtown area had asked the council for permission and assistance in a clean up project.

Tyla Fleming said there were several problem places in the area including abandoned vehicles, burnt out and abandoned buildings and railroad ties and debris.

Fleming said children play around the car, which has broken out windows and near the debris which has become a possible snake problem. She asked if the city could provide trash bags and a truck to haul rubbish off if a community clean up could be arranged for May 2.

Street Commissioner Kevin Marcum said his department would be glad to help. He pointed out that the street department had planned on cleaning up the area where the old railroad ties had been left, but were told by the railroad they did not want them on their property.

Police Chief E. K. Harper said Fire Chief Beckett had just returned from a training with news that would also impact the problem directly. Harper also pointed out that realistically the railroad would not let anybody on their property even if it was to do a free cleanup.

Fleming said there was plenty of debris nearby that could be hauled off as well as a 1980s era Ford automobile sitting there with busted out windows.

"I am not sure whose care it is, but can it be removed?"

"Not if it's on railroad property," said Councilman David Steele.

City Attorney Kendal Partlow said he would contact the railroad and tell them somebody had abandoned the vehicle on their property.