Personnel & Properties Report: Mrs. Jennifer Wilder, Personnel & Properties Director, referenced a PowerPoint presentation and updated Council on the following topics: zoning and property maintenance, the pre-sale/rental inspection program, the Vectren gas line improvement project, development/construction updates, business updates and personnel updates.
The Zoning Department exists to protect Oakwood residents. By enforcing the Zoning and Property Maintenance Codes of the city of Oakwood, the City is working to protect property values. This is done by reviewing & analyzing land use, zoning proposals, requests, and administering permits for improvements made to properties. The Zoning Department’s number one goal is compliance with the Council-approved Oakwood Zoning Code and Oakwood Property Maintenance Code.
Mrs. Wilder encouraged residents to contact the Zoning Department before taking any steps on property improvement projects. She explained that Mr. Ethan Kroger, the code enforcement officer, will meet residents at their property and walk them through the permitting process so that residents have a clear understanding of the process.
The Oakwood Zoning Department is a busy place, with 353 permits issued in 2019. This work represents over $5 million dollars being reinvested into the community.
In addition to ongoing property maintenance efforts, the Zoning Department annually conducts a city-wide automobile tour to identify violations of the Oakwood Property Maintenance Code. Property owners are sent a letter advising them of the violation(s) and establishing a date to complete the repair(s). There were 158 property maintenance violation letters sent in 2019. The most common violations were dead or diseased trees and/or peeling paint. City staff works with property owners who require additional time to correct violations. In the rare circumstance that a property owner makes no attempt to correct a violation, citations are issued to appear in Oakwood Municipal Court. Of the 158 property violations, 155 were corrected and three cases are still open and being addressed.
The Zoning Department also administers a Pre-sale and Rental Inspection Program. This program was established in 1968 to ensure that properties are code-compliant at the time of sale, or brought into compliance shortly thereafter. The Zoning Department completed a total of 427 pre-sale, rental and business inspections in 2019. This program is especially important to a community like Oakwood with an aging housing stock, further protecting property values by ensuring homes are maintained throughout the transfer of property. Inspections are scheduled once a completed application is received. An inspector will meet the property owner or agent and perform a brief inspection of the interior and exterior of the property for compliance with the building, zoning, and property maintenance codes. This includes confirming placement of smoke detectors, hand rails, and other safety requirements, as well as general property maintenance concerns. Also the inspector will verify that HVAC equipment has been properly inspected through the city of Kettering’s building department. Once an inspection is complete, and any violations are remedied, an occupancy certificate is generated which is necessary for closing on the property.
Between April and October this year, Vectren will replace underground gas distribution pipes and home service lines in specific areas. Project area A includes work on: Park Avenue between Harman Avenue and Oakwood Avenue; Oakwood Avenue between Park Avenue and W. Thruston Boulevard; W. Dixon Avenue; Harman Avenue between Far Hills Avenue and W. Dixon Avenue; Harman Terrace; Runnymede Road between W. Thruston Boulevard and W. Dixon Avenue; and Katharine Street. Project area B includes work on: Oakwood Avenue between Far Hills Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue; Ridgewood Avenue; Schenk Avenue; Glendora Avenue between Ridgewood Avenue and Schenk Avenue; and Springgrove Avenue between Ridgewood Avenue and Schenk Avenue. Project area C includes work on: Runnymede Road between W. Dixon Avenue and Walnut Springs Drive; Oakmead Place; Thornhill Road; and Walnut Springs Drive.
In all work areas, Vectren is installing new polyethylene pipes in place of old steel and cast iron pipes and is moving indoor gas meters to outside wall locations. This is the continuation of a multi-year Vectren infrastructure replacement project in Oakwood. Oakwood residents personally affected by the work will receive detailed information from Vectren. Vectren pipeline project maps are available on the City’s website or on Vectren’s website.
The Properties and Public Works Departments are working on an inventory project involving city signs relating to corporation limits, business district block signs, and signs on municipal lots including parks, parking lots, etc. This involves creating a GIS-backed record of the signs, which includes photos and exact locations. The inventory will include the type of sign and will determine a refurbishment schedule for those signs needing attention.