Eastside Defender

At this month’s 1st Ward Problem Properties meeting a couple of interesting points came up.

1) A house can be condemned for lack of water service. If, however, the occupants break into the water shut-off stop box and turn the water on themselves, City policy prevents condemnation. The house is considered to have water service even if the water is being stolen from the City.

2) Animal Control will not respond to a dangerous animal call until someone is bitten. The example discussed involved a raccoon trapped in a house. The human occupants were removed by police--they had other issues, too--while the ’coon was left alone in the house. Animal Control could not trap or kill the raccoon.

I have not researched the relevant ordinances and policy specifics, but the sources are very credible. These points seem to merit further investigation, and perhaps a review of City policies.
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