HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-30 OPH Ltr to Wells Fargo Re Unsafe Deck & Porch Structure ' CITY OF
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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November 30, 2011 VIA E -MAIL AND US MAIL
Code Violations
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
X2303 -048
1 Home Campus
Des Moines, IA 50328
Ref: 5431 Ojibway Ave. N. Deck and Porch Structures •
Tax id # 04- 029 -20 -32 -00065 Wells Fargo RE: 708 - 0205190416
To Whom It May Concern,
Attached is a copy of a letter dated October 7, 2011, addressed to Mr. Treavor Sharbach, who as I was
informed, was representing Wells Fargo's Property Management for fore - closed homes. As highlighted
in the letter the DECK STRUCTURE IS UNSAFE AND THE PORCH IS TO BE INSPECTED BY A STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER. I also requested that a plan to resolve the safety issue of the deck and porch be submitted
to the City within ten days of the date of that letter. To date the City has received nothing.
This letter is to inform you that the conditions noted in the letter must be met no later than December
10, 2011. The contractor for the project must make application for a Building Permit, provide
construction plans, be licensed with the State of Minnesota, and obtain a Building Permit prior to any
construction work being done. The contractor is responsible for calling for all inspections as note on the
Building Permit Inspection Record and as noted in the letter shall have the structural integrity of the
porch verified by a state licensed engineer. The Engineer's inspection records are to be stamped,
signed, and submitted to City.
Please note that if the corrections are not completed, inspected, and approval granted for compliance to
the Building Code from the City's Building Inspection Department by December 10, 2011, the City will
have no alternative other than to take further legal action. The City will also charge the property owner
for staff, contractor, administration time, and material costs to abate this violation.
Sj.terely,
•
/J Butler, •
Building Official
CC: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Brian DeRosier, Police Chief
Mark Vierling, City Attorney
Julie Hultman, Planning and Code Enforcement Officer
Betty Caruso, Finance Director
Kelly Renfrow, Wells Fargo Consultant
Lyndi Vang, Wells Fargo Code Violations
Frank Howard Jr., Wells Fargo Client Services Consultant
•
Tree City U.S.A.
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OAK PARK HEIGHTS 1
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_� 14168 Oak Park Boulevard No. • • P.O. Box 2007 • • Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 -2007 • • Phone: 651 '439 -4439 • • Fax: 651/439 -0
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 16 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 a site investigation of this property and the deck
structure.
I found that grasses 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 on 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 IS UNSAFE' signs on the deck posts and closed
off the area with police caution tape.
I researched the property 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
Building 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