Groups say Florence County ordinance on unsafe structures a 'win-win'

Members of Florence-area neighborhood groups say an ordinance before Florence County Council will be a positive step toward handling unsafe structures in unincorporated areas that brush up against the Florence city limits.

Councilman Al Bradley said he’s discussed the ordinance with some neighborhood and community organizations in and around town.

Pat Gibson-Hye, chairwoman of the East Florence Community Organization, said the ordinance should be a “win-win” for city and county residents.

Bradley is the co-chairman of the Florence City-County Conference Committee, which includes members of county council and Florence City Council.

“We want to work together and have similar policies with the city on the abandoned buildings so that nothing is left out,” Bradley said.

Florence City Council also is considering changes to its ordinance regarding abandoned properties, dilapidated buildings and overgrown lots.

Teresa Ervin, a member of the Northwest Florence Neighborhood Council, said she supports county council’s efforts to develop “a consistent way of handling these properties.”

“I do believe in having the owners clean the properties and maintain the properties as they would want (the properties where they live) to be maintained,” she said.

Gibson-Hye thinks, however, that law enforcement officials shouldn’t be the only ones who can begin any action against a “nuisance” property, she said. Under the ordinance, which is up for a third and final reading today, a code official can enforce it only when a law enforcement officer in Florence County submits a written complaint about a property.

“The residents are the ones who live with those properties every day, and the residents know what’s detrimental to their communities,” she said.

Councilman James Schofield said during October’s council meeting that code officials should have the leeway, with the county administrator’s approval, to take action in certain cases regarding dilapidated, unsafe buildings.

The county is aiming to avoid situations where neighbors would be turning in neighbors, council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith Jr. said during that meeting.

The current building code states that the code official and county can take action only when a building is a hazard to someone in the public right-of-way or on someone else’s property, former Florence County Planning Director Bill Hoge said last month, before leaving for a job in Sumter.

Under the proposed ordinance, the code official can require the owner to fix or demolish the building. If the owner doesn’t comply, the county could have the building demolished and place a lien against the property, Hoge said.

The ordinance also provides for an appeals process as well as abatement agreements, which establish time frames for correcting violations. The agreements can be as long as six months initially, although the county could grant two six-month extensions.

In other business at today’s meeting, council is scheduled to vote on an emergency ordinance that will temporarily suspend the state’s Sunday work prohibitions from this coming Sunday through Jan. 3. The ordinance, which council typically passes in time for holiday shopping, will not affect restrictions on Sunday alcohol sales.

Council also will hold a public hearing on the administrative procedures of the county’s comprehensive plan, which is undergoing an update after 10 years, as required by state law. The procedures and other updated elements of the plan can be viewed at www.florenceco.org/planning.

IF YOU’RE GOING

WHAT: Florence County Council’s Public Service and County Planning Committee meeting

WHEN: 8 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: Florence City-County Complex Room 802, 180 N. Irby St., Florence

INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Y. Haselden at (843) 665-3035

WHAT: Florence County Council regular meeting, including public hearing on administrative procedures for county comprehensive plan

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: Florence City-County Complex Room 803, 180 N. Irby St., Florence

INFO: Call Clerk to Council Connie Y. Haselden at (843) 665-3035