By HOLLY GASKILL
At Tuesday’s Bluffton Board of Works meeting, Brad Hartman voiced complaints about the current enforcement of building codes.
Hartman works for TB Property Management and, in working on local houses and apartments, has repeatedly come across building code issues. Hartman said he has encountered dangerous structures and outdated electrical work that puts tenants and adjacent properties at significant risk.
Many of these properties, Hartman said, are owned by landlords who have refused to renovate structural issues.
The city has been operating without an inspector since early May, but the new inspector is set to start on Monday and will begin addressing complaints. While this solution was offered, Hartman expressed frustration with the delay in the process, saying some structures could cause a disaster at any moment.
“It’s not a matter of it’ll catch on fire; it’s a matter of when,” Hartman said.
“We’ve got a number of properties right now that we’ve issued citations for either junk or buildings that we’ve deemed non-safe,” said Scott Mentzer. “I hear you … I think this is a conversation we need to have, and you have my commitment that we will.”
Mayor John Wicker also updated the board on the structure at 427 W. Lancaster St., saying that adequate progress was being made and that they were going to continue to monitor the situation.
The board discussed these issues without member Roger Thorton, who was on vacation.bo
