The city of Athens has condemned and ordered the removal of 48 structures in the past two years, according to Public Works Department employee Erik Waddell.

Waddell, who addressed a work session of the Athens City Council Monday, said the city has spent $20,000 in those two years on tearing down and removal of just six of those houses, with the rest being removed by owners.

Twenty more houses were brought up to local building codes and 16 more are in the “open file” process, Waddell said.

“The International Building Code has unsafe structures guidelines,” said Waddell. “We’re trying to bring as many houses as possible up to code.”

Waddell said the city adopted the 2003 code in January and will adopt the 2006 revised code in early 2007.

“With a building maintenance code it allows us to be much more exact, there are no gray areas,” he said. “The old code was too vague.”

Under city ordinances, the owner is informed of the complaint about substandard property. Next, comes a “30-day letter” from Waddell. If the owner does not take remedial action then a 30-day letter comes from attorney Chad Wise. After that, Public Works comes to the city for a resolution of condemnation.

If the city has to bear the cost of demolition and removal, it places a lien on the property that is added to the tax bill on file with Limestone County Revenue Commissioner Brian Patterson’s office. When the owner pays off the lien the money is refunded to the city.

Waddell said he is also working with Micah Cochran in the Public Works office on mapping of condemned structures that shows those slated for removal, those removed and those marked for work to bring up to code.

“We are very proactive in condemning service also,” said Waddell. “If we see wires hanging, we disconnect electrical service. To get it re-connected, the owner has to come through us and bring it up to code.”