HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-07 OPH Ltr to MN Construction & Property Maintenance Re Deck & Porch Structure CITY OF
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OAK PARK HEIGHTS
14168 Oak Park Boulevard No. • P.O. Box 2007 • Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 -2007 • Phone: 651/439 -4439 • Fax: 651/439 -0574
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October 7, 2011
Trevor Sharbach
Minnesota Construction & Property Management
9299 212 Street West
Lakeville, MN 55044
Ref: 5431 Ojibway Ave. N. Yard Maintenance and Deck / Porch Structures
Tax id # 04- 029 -20 -32 -00065 Wells Fargo RE: 708 - 0205190416
Dear Mr. Sharbach, -
Per your request as the owner's contractor for the maintenance of the property noted above, I
am writing this letter to give you the history of the dwelling and existing conditions at the site.
On September 16t the City received a complaint regarding long grasses and weeds in the yard
and that it was not being properly maintained. The site was visited by a police officer who saw
that a center post that was to be supporting the beam of the deck structure was lying on the
ground. Upon the officer's request I did asite investigation of this property and the deck
structure.
I found that gr and weeds were a foot or higher in height and the deck was not properly
supported. As indicated by the officer, the center post support for the beam -was lying the
ground, and the corner post was pulled away from the deck approximately five inches. I was
not able to see the footings because they were buried beneath the rocks, but it appears that
they have settled or that the post footings supporting a center beam for the deck structure
heaved from the frost. -
In addition, many of the posts supporting both the deck and the porch have stress cracks in the
wood. With those findings, I deemed the deck structure unsafe and a hazard to public safety,
and I posted 'DO NOT ENTER DECK STRUCTURE I5 UNSAFE' signs on the deck posts and closed
off the area with police caution tape.
I researched the file at City Hall and found that a Certificate of Occupancy was issued
on March 15, 1990, and a Building Permit for the porch and deck was issued August 1, 1990.
The City does not have the building plan for either structure.
Tree City U.S.A.
At this time I am requiring the following regarding the deck and porch structures to bring them
in compliance with the Minnesota State Building Code:
1) Repair or replacement of the deck;
2) Verification that the footings for the deck and screened porch are of an approved design
and size to support the load;
3) Inspection of the floor system of the porch structure to verify proper sizing of the beam
and floor joists; and
4) Inspection of the posts for their structural integrity.
Verification of all the items above is to be done by a Minnesota State Licensed Structural
Engineer or they are to submit structural design plans for the corrections to be made to bring
the structure into compliance with the State Building Code.
In addition, the owner is to keep the property free from the -re- occurrence of the nuisance of a
poorly maintained yard. Should the City receive further complaints regarding the yard, the City
shall hire a contractor to abate the nuisance. The owner shall be charged for this service,
including but not limited to the Contractor's cost for this service and City's staff time spent to
abate this nuisance. Please note that on a site visit to the property, I found that the contractor
that cut the grass did not bag the grass and did not remove the weeds in the gardens around
the dwelling. The owner is directed to have the contractor return to resolve this issue within
ten days of the date of this letter.
The City is also requesting that a plan to resolve the safety issue of the deck and porch be
submitted within ten days of the date of this letter. Please contact me if you have further
questions.
Jim Butler
iIding 0 icial
/ CC: Eric Johnson, City Administrator •
Brian DeRosier, Police Chief
Mark Vierling, City Attorney
Julie Hultman, Planning and Code Enforcement Officer
Kelly Renfrow, Wells Fargo Consultant