A Shameful Saga

South Euclid Oversight is in possession of the housing inspection reports for each of the 9 Greenvale Drive homes purchased by the City for $1.6 million. The reports are inclusive of interior and exterior inspections because they were rental properties.

It is perplexing that the Sun Messenger continuously refers to the Greenvale homes as "dilapidated". As anyone can see from the photographs below, and as reflected in the inspection reports obtained from the Building Department, these homes were not in disrepair. Uncleanliness can be remedied with bleach and some elbow grease. Squandering $1.8 million taxpayer dollars on this project is absurd, as is the demolition of structurally sound houses.

What will be the grand total of expenditure on this debacle?

• The City's public statements are inconsistent with the Building Department inspection reports regarding the Greenvale 9.
• The Sun Messenger repeatedly reports that the homes are "dilapidated", "blighted", and "run-down".
• If the homes are not in disrepair, why is there no effort on the part of City officials to correct newspaper reports? The City allows the public to be misled to further their personal agenda and charade.
• City Law Director is quoted in the Sun Messenger stating the interior of the homes are "absolutely disgusting".
• Each of the 9 homes are issued a "certificate of occupancy" by the Building Department. To obtain a "certificate of occupancy" a home must be in compliance with city code.
• Per the City Law Director, the homes are "not structurally unsound".
• The City purchases the properties for $186,100.00 OVER the county Auditor's market value price.
• The brick homes are demolished thus instantly reducing the property value to vacant land status negating any possibility of recuperating the full purchase price.
• The City will continue to spend even MORE money for property upkeep, including snow removal and landscaping costs.
• As of January 2008, the City of South Euclid owes the Cuyahoga County Auditor property taxes for the tax year 2007 in the amount of $38,254.53 for the Greenvale Drive properties.

To view other posts on South Euclid Oversight concerning the Greenvale Drive properties, please click on the links below:

• Actions Speak Louder Than Words December 2007
• Greenvale Dangers July 2007
• STILL Looking For Answers On Greenvale Drive July 2007
• Greenvale Houses- Before & After July 2007
• No Plans For Greenvale April 2007
• City Funded Real Estate Venture April 2007
• City Spends $1.8 million March 2007

Please click on either image below to view full size.

Roadblocks And Barricades

The Mayor of South Euclid shows her lack of compassion for the citizens she professes to serve:

• "Why do we want to make it easier for people who are moving out.....?"

It is disturbing that Georgine Welo finds it appropriate to attempt to obstruct or hinder the free will of someone wanting to sell their home and move to another location. Subjecting people to complications and deterrents is an ineffective scheme to coerce someone to remain in South Euclid. This tactic is not unlike physically erecting roadblocks and barricades at the city borders to prevent departure. This attitude does not portray the City government as resident friendly, and certainly will not assist the effort to attract prospective newcomers. Welo offers her justification for South Euclid to jump on the bandwagon, "Most cities have point-of-sale inspections." Perhaps this is just another veiled excuse to collect more money from the hardworking taxpayers of the city.

• SOUTH EUCLID ALREADY HAS A PROGRAM FOR EXTERIOR HOME INSPECTIONS.

In the words of Councilwoman Jane Goodman from her blog dated February 15, 2007, regarding "Point-of-Sale" inspections: "These inspections would be the same type of exterior inspections we already require, no more and no less."..."We will continue to do regular door-to-door inspections, starting the cycle again in 2008 and continuing whether point-of-sale is in place or not, and our inspectors will continue to respond to neighbors' complaints and cite high grass and weeds."

• Below is a an explanation from the City website regarding their current program for exterior home inspection. Why isn't the current program sufficient and/or enforced? Why charge the homeowner even more money than they are already paying in excruciatingly high taxes to get the same job done? Why burden the homeowner with the preposterous escrow scheme?

"PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS An exterior housing inspection of all property on selected streets will be made this spring. The inspection of sidewalks and aprons will be conducted independently of the housing inspection program. This systematic inspection program is an important means in achieving the goals of the City Strategic Plan as it relates to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life, safety and the property values of our neighborhoods. The Sidewalk Inspection Program provides options and flexibility to property owners for facilitating the necessary sidewalk repairs in a timely manner, thus assuring a safe sidewalk for pedestrian use. The exterior of approximately 1/5 of the City's homes are visually inspected each year to assure upkeep of housing stock. Residents are notified of any problems which need to be corrected and given adequate time to correct any deficiencies. Items checked are gutters, downspouts, masonry, sidewalks, driveways, aprons, siding, paint, windows and general cleanliness. Residents of streets scheduled for inspection this spring will be mailed detailed information regarding the inspection programs. If you have any questions regarding either the Sidewalk Inspection Program or the Exterior Inspection Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Building Department at (216) 381-0400 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We will be glad to assist you."

Please click on article below to view full size.

Great Programs

South Euclid Oversight endorses the "COMMUNITY ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM". To register on line, please click on the link below:

http://216.144.36.96/signup/communitysignup.asp

Fire Chief Thomas Cannell seems to be prepared for his task as Emergency Coordinator of this newly implemented system. He is also the adviser for the "CERT" program - "COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM". It would be great if they could include a unit of volunteers to this team specifically devoted to animal rescue. Please click on the link below to read more about "CERT".

• http://www.cityofsoutheuclid.com/cert.htm

Please click on the image below to view full size.