A change could make Springfield's nuisance abatement process quicker

When the city of Springfield finds nuisance conditions at a property, the property owner has the right to request a legal hearing, where they can contest the nuisance order or ask for some time to be given to them so they can fix the problem.

Sometimes the property owners don't show up to the hearing after they've requested one.

Springfield City Council is considering a change to the Nuisance and Housing Code which allows the city to move forward with nuisance removal or abatement if the property owner is a no-show at a hearing.

Examples of nuisance conditions include insect and rodent infestations, litter and derelict automobiles.

Currently, if the property owner doesn't appear at the appointment, employees of the city's department of Building Development Services still have to go through the motions of the hearing, says a city document. They have to testify and make a hearing record. The city also has to pay the hearing officer to oversee the event, issue a formal ruling and notify all the parties.

More:Four indicted after baby dies in roach-infested Christian County home

Popular Now:Greene County restaurant inspections

According to Harlan Hill, director of Building Development Services, the hearing officer's rate is $150 an hour.

Then, the city has to wait 30 days to allow for the filing of an appeal, the document says.

"That just further delays our ability to enact an abatement of the property and its condition," Hill said at a City Council meeting Monday night.

Hill, in the city document, expressed a suspicion that some people who request a hearing use it as a delay tactic.

If the property owner ditches the hearing without a good excuse, then their right to be heard should be considered forfeited, Hill said.

Hill said the proposed change will expedite his department's ability to fix nuisance issues in neighborhoods.

City Council is expected to vote on this proposal at the next meeting in January.

More Springfield News:

Warrant outlines the case against Wildcat Tool Rental owner

Springfield orthopedist, who lost $10M in 'scheme,' lied to IRS about trips to Brazil

Branson police investigate threat against junior high school, unable to verify as credible