HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 05-20 Residents ask council to help clean up apartment conditions DISPATCH :r Thur., May 20, '76 ' , St.Paul Dispatch
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Apartment dwellers complain- "WE WENT to the city council crement from pet§ on the MILLER SAID people have
ing about undesirable condi- to see if they can help us. We grounds, overly loud and bois- indicated that some tenants have
tions in their buildings turned didn't know where else to go," terous tenants,and trash thrown more than two dogs in their
to the Maplewood City'Council Miller said after the council around the complex's dumpster. apartments,which is a violation
for help last week, meeting. "It is our belief that the grant- of a city ordinance.
Leslie A. Miller, 1510 E. In the petition, the tenants ing of the above demands and Also, he said the city has gen-
County Rd. B, presented the complained about loose and requests will make our apart- eral health laws to deal with
council a petition signed by missing stair railings,. broken merits a better and safer place to cleanliness and a building code
•more than 70 residents of Hazel- windows, "filthy" hall floors live,and will give each tenant a to cover bad hot water heaters,
wood Heights Apartments ask- and walls, snow-covered side- greater amount of pride in their for example.
ing that the conditions be reme- walks during winter, an unen- home and more respect for the After the meeting, Miller said
died, closed children's play area, ex- management," the,petition he thinks a housing code is
stated. something the city will need,
"WE WANT them, to clean but in better financial times.
this place up," said Ava Baciak, "We couldn't enforce a hous-
1492 E. County Rd. B, another frig code without additional per-
apartment tenant who appeared sonnel," Miller said. "And we
before the council. , are caught by levy limitations.A
"But Maplewood has'no housing code means additional
housing code.We pay taxes,but personnel and taxes."
we have no tenants rights," she ,
said. II
City Manager Michael Miller I
told the council the staff has 1
, been attempting to work with ri
the people involved in the dis-
pute
to correct undesirable situ-
ations,within existing city ordi-
nances.
'. However, he said most of the
complaints involve maintenance
and do not come within the
• realm of existing ordinances.
"SUCH ENFORCEMENT
would require what is common-'
• ly called a housing code which
deals with the maintenance of
existing buildings. Maplewood
does not presently have such an
ordinance or the personnel to
enforce such a code," Miller
said. I ,
The council asked\the city
manager to seek the county's
help in relieving conditions
caused by inadequate mainte-
nance. Miller was asked to work