Armed with a new name, the Property Development Committee is finding its footing in an effort to tackle unsightly houses and lots in El Dorado.
More specifically, the group is exploring options in order to make recommendations for such properties that are being considered for condemnation.
Formerly known as the “Lot Committee,” the nascent group has met three times within the past two months and is working to define its mission and goals.
Headed up by El Dorado City Council member Willie McGhee, the group held its third meeting July 12.
McGhee previously said that the purpose of the committee is three-fold: to assess properties that are recommended for condemnation by City Code Enforcement Officer Kirby Craig; to determine if a structure is suitable for rehabilitation and if anyone is interested in purchasing the property to bring it up to code; and to develop a plan to maintain vacant lots if structures are condemned and razed — all in an effort to beautify neighborhoods and make them safer.
Some ideas that have been bandied about include creating community gardens; selling the properties and offering first choice of purchase to neighbors; and allowing residents to adopt the properties and maintain them.
McGhee said the goal of the committee is to work hand in hand with the Department of Public Works, which includes code enforcement, and serve as a liaison between residents and City Hall, particularly with a new mayoral administration coming into City Hall on Jan. 1.
The next mayor of El Dorado will be decided in the November General Election in a race between candidates Veronica Smith Creer and Bill Luther.
“We’re not here to be the ‘gotcha police’ or to make anyone look bad. We’re here to make progress,” McGhee said.
“We hope to have a good relationship with the new administration. That’s going to be a key part of getting our city where we need to be as far as housing. Housing is a problem here. It’s a major issue,” he continued.
McGhee shared with the committee a list of seven vacant properties that are owned by the city, saying that Director of Public Works Robert Edmonds compiled the list.
The properties are: 1216 Craig; “Most of these are in neighborhoods that definitely need upgrades,” he said, adding that Craig is expected to submit photos of the properties.
McGhee and city Council Member Tony Henry said the committee plans to visit the properties and gather more details, including a property description, the size of the property, if any infrastructure is present, etc.
Henry asked how local residents and potential buyers will be notified that the properties are available. McGhee said he has spoken with representatives from the News-Times about possibly listing the properties.
“What we’re going to do first is look at the properties, come up with suggestions and notify the media and try to have a plan for the properties,” McGhee said.
McGhee said the committee is also hoping to rally local residents around the committee’s efforts.
“We’ve got to get citizens to buy into this. Sometimes, I receive pictures of litter from people,” he said. “If it’s me, in the time it took to take two or three pictures and send them, you could have picked it up.”
McGhee acknowledged there are some areas that require more attention than one person can provide and mentioned efforts by Keep El Dorado Beautiful, of which Henry is a member.
“The more people you get involved on this deal, the more positive outcome you’ll have. We’ve got to educate people,” Henry said.
KEB works to educate citizens and raise awareness about recycling, beautification the city and how to keep the city litter-free.
The group is encouraging city council members to organize community cleanups in each of the city’s four wards during each quarter of 2018 and is offering cash incentives for volunteer teams.
Cleanups have already been held in wards 3 and 4 this year, and similar events are anticipated in wards 1 and 2 in the fall.
‘Fairly good condition’
Committee member April Wren suggested that the committee hone in on residential neighborhoods that are ripe for rehabilitation and beautification.
She cited the area of Cedar and East Elm as an example.
“These sections are in fairly good condition. There are not a lot of rundown houses, but they’re headed that way,” Wren said. “You have a lot of elderly people who are on a fixed income and they don’t have the money to put siding on their houses or to paint their houses.”
McGhee and committee member Doug Stanton referred to a volunteer program that will be launched next year in El Dorado by Entergy.
“Paint Your Heart Out” is designed to assist the elderly, disabled and low-income families in sprucing up their homes.
In June, Christopher Wasson, customer service manager for Entergy’s El Dorado office, discussed the program with the El Dorado City Council.
Wasson said funding for the project would come from donations, citing cost estimates of $7,500 per house, and the labor from volunteers, with teams of at least 15 members each assembling to paint houses in one day.
To qualify for the program, applicants must be:
• 62 and over.
• Disabled.
• Low-income (annual household income must be 80 percent or below the median household income for El Dorado — which is estimated between $33,725 and $38,466).
• The owner-occupant (whoever occupies the house must the owner).
• A resident of El Dorado.
Houses must meet structural building/housing codes — local, state and federal — and have visible signs for a need for painting and minor exterior repairs.
Wasson said smoke detectors will also be installed, and the El Dorado Fire Chief Chad Mosby said the fire department can assist in providing and installing smoke detectors.
Entergy will begin accepting applications for the program in August, with a target date of May 2019.
For more information or to request an application, call Wasson at 870-864-3838.
McGhee said he is hoping the Property Development Committee can tap into the “Paint Your Heart Out” project.
Wren also said she would like to visit with neighbors who live adjacent to vacant properties to inform them about the committee’s efforts and see if the neighbors are interested in purchasing or adopting vacant properties to maintain them.
“If there are two houses on either side, maybe they could split it in half. It would add value to their properties,” she said.
As part of her duties with the Marrable Hill neighborhood group, Wren said she often worked with her neighbors and the city code enforcement office to help resolve issues and complaints, noting that the committee could take on a similar role.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.