Cullman City moves to declare two properties public nuisances and schedules public hearing

Blake Calvert, a code-enforcement officer, briefed the council on complaints about two properties (1315 Maple Drive NW and 611 Cleveland Ave SW) that staff say have not been abated despite repeated owner notifications. Calvert told the council the proposed resolution would set a public hearing for June 22, require certified-mail notice to owners at least 21 days before the hearing, publish notice twice in the newspaper, and post banners on the properties.

Calvert said owners would have five days to file objections with the city clerk or appear before the council to contest the findings, and that if the city completes abatement work, the cost would be assessed to the property as a weed lien and could appear on property-tax records. He noted owners would still have the opportunity to correct violations before the city contracted work.

Council members asked about the difference between civil nuisance procedures and criminal processes through the police/magistrate; staff clarified the current resolution pursues the civil process (weed-lien approach). The council adopted the resolution to begin the nuisance process.

Next steps: Staff to mail notices, publish and post banners as required and hold the public hearing on June 22.