Morgan City Council tackles property issues

The Morgan City Council discussed multiple property items on its agenda, including one that could be tied to forthcoming legal action.
The council heard from Morgan City residents Crystal Barber and her son Chad Arabie about a residence at 711 Ditch Ave., which caught on fire on Christmas Eve 2020.
Compliance Director Pete Lawton said he notified them that the house needs to be secured.
Barber said her mother passed away three years ago and willed the home to Barber and Arabie.
“The reason why the structure has not been fixed and picked up is because we were informed by a lawyer not to touch anything until they can come out and take pictures of her home,” she told the mayor and council.
While trying to complete the succession, Barber said they have spoken with an attorney about suing the city regarding the cause of the fire, but they must complete the succession before the suit is filed.
She said it is the city’s fault the home caught fire because they placed the electrical line too close to the home.
“This is the second time her house has caught afire,” Barber said.
City Attorney Paul Landry said that while he understands Barber and Arabie’s situation, the building is not safe for the public.
“At this point, the city needs to do something with the property,” Landry said.
He said that the city could condemn the building, regardless of the succession’s status.
Barber agreed that it needs to be torn down but asked for time to recover any salvageable property from the home.
Councilman Ron Bias offered a motion to condemn the building allowing them two weeks to recover their items, and Councilman Tim Hymel gave a second. It passed unanimously.
In another matter Tuesday, the council learned from Planning & Zoning Director Anthony Governale that the deadline for a freeboard of 1 foot above base flood elevation, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency was trying to get communities to adopt a year ago, has been extended to the end of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The freeboard would impact only homes that have been damaged considerably, those who have been upgraded considerably and new property.
He said he will schedule a meeting, likely by the middle of May, to answer questions after all pertinent information is gathered.
“If considered, it would have to be enforced by the end of the year,” he said.
Also Tuesday, the council learned from Governale that the Planning and Zoning Commission denied a request on a 3-2 vote at its April 13 meeting to subdivide property at 8205 La. 182 East. The property is located in both the parish and Morgan City limits.
The parish already approved moving the property line to the east by about 340 feet onto parish property.
“There’s really no action that we need to take tonight,” Governale said. “We’re just waiting for further plans to see what’s going on with this piece of property.”
Councilman Lou Tamporello said someone seeking the property subdivision has been riding on dirt bikes and big vehicles in the area.
“They really don’t know whether it’s going to be a subdivision or dirt bike trail or whatever,” he said of area residents.
Tamporello said it is something that needs to be looked at because it is tearing up property and causing drainage issues for people in the area.
Governale said he would look into the issues, and the council tabled the matter for now.
In another matter, the council learned from Morgan City Police Capt. Teddy Liner that following last month’s meeting at which nearby resident Hettie J. Carries complained about noise at Table 5 Lounge, the police have spoken with the lounge’s owners who have been cooperative.
“We’ve had a few complaints,” Liner said. “The officers have gone to Ms. Hettie and sat inside her home and around her home. The bar has even moved their speakers, and it seems to have rectified the problem so far.”
Liner said things are improving.
“The bar has also been self-reporting a lot of problems they get, people in the parking lot playing loud music,” Liner said.
Carries also complained about the clutter on the property, which includes two trailers.
Lawton said the owners have secured a demo permit for the mobile home they own, and they are cleaning up the property.
Also Tuesday, the council received updates from Lawton on property that has been discussed at previous meetings. Lawton reported:
—No work has been done at 1330 Oil Tank Alley. Lawton said he was told by a family member that the grass would be cut, and it hasn’t. He also was informed the contractor for the demolition work was from Franklin, not Texas as the city previously informed. He said he has not heard from the contractor. Lawton said plans are to have the two smaller homes on the property demolished, and the yard cleaned up.
—The residence at 514 Federal Ave. has been demolished.
—Nothing has been done at 107 Oak St. An award was bid for the demolition, but the property owner said she would have it demolished instead. However, Lawton said nothing more has been done than cutting grass.
“Called her a couple times, and she hasn’t returned my calls,” he said.
Lawton said the house will be demolished.
—Held off on action on recommending condemning 310 Fifth St. until the property owner, Brian Bellard, can be reached.