HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 05-19 Health, safety problems plague Hazelwood Hts. THE REVIEW Resident advises council:
Health, saftey
plague Hazelwood Hts.
by Scott Carlson "The way to get into this is with some residents try to be considerate.But that
Health and safety problems are kind of housing code that would get into still didn't prevent his backyard looking
becoming increasingly worse at the the maintenance of the buildings," he "like a manure pile for half of the
Hazelwood Heights apartments,County continued.But"it is outside our purview spring,"he said.
Rd.B and Hazelwood avenue,a resident and our financial action." In an attempt to relieve the apartment
of the csrnplex told the Maplewood city The city manager said that some action problems,the council has asked Ramsey
counc.) was taken to"red tag" water heaters County for any assistance"to aid us in
The resident, Leslie Miller, last which the city considered to be finding any available means whereby
Thursday night appealed to the council dangerous. these people (the residents) may find
for some help because "we (the relief from the inadequate upkeep of the
residents)can't get any cooperation from BUT BOTH MILLERS CONCEDE that premises through the consumers affair
the manager or owner." a major problem is trying to locate the division,county attorney,county health
absentee landlord,who apparently only department, or any other appropriate
"THE LIVING CONDITIONS are not has a post office box located in Edina but county department.
safe,"Miller said."They are not clean. has been unavailable for discussion with The council has also directed that the
They are not sanitary." either the residents or the city staff. "police and fire department and health
A petition delivered to the council,and "We have had problems contacting the officer of the city of Maplewood,to the
signed by a number of residents,outlines owner,"Michael Miller said. extent that there are illegal activities or
a score of problems,including: The councilmen said in some instances unsafe activities,be advised to also at-
-No installation of dead-bolt locks, the owner may be violating existing or- tempt to improve the conditions that are
despite the fact that they have been a dinances and the city staff should see to in direct violation of the law."
state requirement since Jan.1. what extent the residents problems can be
—Cockroaches are found throughout relieved. ,l Net
the buildings and pets are allowed to Councilman Norman Anderson, who �� �1'
defecate"all over the premises." seemed outraged at the situation,advised sz .
—Water pipes leak but no action is that the city come"down hard"on the
•% 1 4�
taken to correct the problems, landlord. O+ - - y
—Lack of adequate facilities for people But Michael Miller said that it wouldIt : t.'"to dump their trash while some residents require additional personnel to keep tabs `•,: #"%
do not bother to throw away their trash in on such problems. j•.i-o`!'�
the appropriate dumpster. Leslie Miller said the problem at the ► "
In addition,Miller told the council that apartment complex is compounded ,y
this past winter she had to go a period of because the residents have had five new
four days with no heat in her apartment. caretakers within the past nine months. b° y
In another instance she had no stove for Mayor Robert Bruton tended to agree 'Oa _,�,
Shealso alleges that because of no problem. ,t4`t'
ate
o
dern in his feelings about the ysp'40 ` APIEWpO,,!
security,students from John Glenn junior
high have used a basement in one of the BUT HE LATER ADDED"I don't want MEMBERS OF the Maplewood
buildings to deal in drugs and smoke to get into a full housing code.But I do Jaycees are beginning to sell the
marijuana. want to acknowledge that in a particular city's Bicentennial button. The
case we have a deteriorating situation in buttons sell for SI and will probably
THE CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGER an apartment complex and it should be be made available through local
Michael Miller were sympathetic to the brought under control or we will have a businesses beginning around the
residents.But they explained that their deteriorating neighborhood." - first of June, Bruce Anderson,
hands are somewhat tied because the city A neighboring homeowner acknowl- Maplewood assistant community
lacks a housing code and has no man- edged that several citizens are concerned services director, says. The
power to tag violators even if such a code about the outside problems of the apart- numerals"57"represent the year
existed. ment complex because of trash and that Maplewood became a
Michael Miller told the council, "The animal defecation. municipality onto itself and broke
staff is trying to do something. The man said that many apartment away from Little Canada.