Rison to Target Unsightly Properties

Mayor Says Issue Impacting City's Ability to Attract Residential Investors
  • DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS - While the clean-up of residential properti es will be a major focus for Mayor Charles Roberts, he also said he intends to address some of the buildings in the downtown area. This photo taken of a broken front window of the old Cash Grocery building on Main Street in downtown Rison reveals that the roof has collapses the entire length of the structure. Roberts said he intends to discuss the Cash building during the next city council meeting.
    DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS - While the clean-up of residential properti es will be a major focus for Mayor Charles Roberts, he also said he intends to address some of the buildings in the downtown area. This photo taken of a broken front window of the old Cash Grocery building on Main Street in downtown Rison reveals that the roof has collapses the entire length of the structure. Roberts said he intends to discuss the Cash building during the next city council meeting.
  • CASH GROCERY BUILDING - After remaining vacant and unused for several years, the roof of the Cash Grocery building in the 200 block of Main Street in downtown Rison collapsed within the past year. As revealed through the windows in this photo, the front wall is all that remains of the structure.
    CASH GROCERY BUILDING - After remaining vacant and unused for several years, the roof of the Cash Grocery building in the 200 block of Main Street in downtown Rison collapsed within the past year. As revealed through the windows in this photo, the front wall is all that remains of the structure.
RISON - Mayor Charles Roberts said he feels unsightly properties around Rison are having a negative impact on the city's ability to attract residential development, and he plans to address the problem very soon.Roberts said Tuesday he intends for the citywide clean-up to be a major topic of discussion when the Rison City Council holds its next regular monthly meeting on May 7."We've got to get this place cleaned up," he said. "We urge people to get started immediately." Roberts said he recently had a meeting lined up for an out-ofstate investor wanting to develop some residential rental property in town. That person arrived early to look around on their own. When he about their scheduled meeting, Roberts said the investor responded that he had already left town.Roberts said that was the third time such a scenario had played out for him since becoming mayor, and he believes the unkempt properties around town, including those in the downtown area, are discouraging potential developers from investing here."It does make a negative impact on our city," Roberts said.As a result, Roberts said he will be getting with City Attorney Thomas Burns soon to start sending out certified letters to those who have properties that are not in compliance with the city ordinance regarding the condition of properties in the city. "You may be getting a letter if your yard is in need of being cleaned up," Roberts warned.In tackling the issue, Roberts said he has reached out to some mayors of similar sized cities to see what they have done.One common strategy that Roberts said he intends to emulate is to officially notify the person that the property needs to be cleaned up to put it in compliance with the city ordinance. If that person does not comply, then the city will clean up the property and bill the property owner for the cost. Should the property owner fail to pay for the clean up, those charges will be applied to the property owner's property taxes for collection.While he…

To access content, please login or purchase a subscription.