He added that's where city codeand the ability to address compliance issues come into play. PDF City of Topeka - cot-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com "I'd be sitting in my bedroom doing nothing except for watching a movie, and I'd just be soaked in sweat," Branch said. Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti at 2553 Sw Fairmont Rd Topeka, Kansas, 66614: Hasn't mowed grass. The program offers a rehabilitation grant to a household that is eligible. Disclaimer: The City Clerks Office has the official version of the Topeka Municipal Code. Please view ticket for staff comments. "Over the last several years at these upper level appeals, an adjustment was either granted or stipulated less than 20% of the time," Bauman said. 10.20.020 - Parking on Public Sidewalk, Bicycle Path or Recreational Path Prohibited. No person shall park, store or keep a commercial vehicle, in any area of the City, public or private, provided, commercial vehicles may be parked on private or public parking areas for the purpose of loading or unloading, being actively involved in on-going construction or maintenance on the property, or being used to patronize the particular business, church or other facility. "Of course, you're in an air-conditioning season. "There are some (property owners) that are very aware of the law, as to when we are capable of taking action," Crowl said, "so they pay taxes just in time to keep their properties from being filed upon. "Well, I can't pass it along if they're not going to return my calls," he said. (Ord. International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Section 302.8 Motor Vehicles A well-run organization consisting of Engineering, Streets, Maintenance, Traffic Signs and Signals, Forestry, Parking, Fleet, and GIS Management ensures public funds are spent on projects and services approved by you through your local City Council representative. "We moved here with all the hopes of becomingpart of the community," Hammack said. Of the roughly 380 cases property maintenance has investigated over the past six years, about 217 have fallenunder the "housing" category. Topeka Municipal Code. 65-101 et seq. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. "Property maintenance's hope," he said,"is that every property owner will address violations brought forward by their tenants in an expeditious manner to ensure that the tenants' life, safety and comfort are the No. (He said,) 'Well, we'll get you taken care of.'". The City of Topeka is seeking a dedicated individual to serve as a member of its Property Maintenance Inspection team. Vehicles are unsightly, they provide harborage for rodents, and are an attractive nuisance for children. PDF KANSAS TREE AND SHRUBBERY LAW - Kansas Department of Agriculture The Wichita Eagle reported in 2011 that Macco Properties a company McGinnis owned with his wife owed $2.3 million at the timein back property taxes in Wichita and had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the year before. No on-street parking of buses or taxis except in a bus stop or taxi zone "We tell everyone your work orders are as important as collecting your rent," McGinnis said. The Public Health and Safety Committee. It took more than a week for her landlord to fix the A/C. Visit bit.ly/TopekaCOCPM for more information. Eventually, he went to the leasing office, with hopes of talkingto someone in person. A rehabilitation program receives $750,000 grant - WIBW 10.20.060 - TrailersParking Regulations. She said thecarpet hadn't been shampooed between residents, some floorboards were rotting, mold covered an air vent just outside her door, her basement storage unit wasn't secure, her air conditioning was broken for months this year and the list goes on. Please view ticket for staff comments. If you have any questions, please call us at 785-368-3111. Michaud became frustratedwhen back-and-forth communication with property managers and the leasing office yielded little progress. If this is an actual emergency, please call 9-1-1. In the case of a residential property like the ones McGinnis owns the owner would have to be delinquent on property taxes forthree consecutive years before the county could take legal action, Crowl said, adding there may be other factors to consider depending on the case. When Mary Hammack moved to Topeka last yearwith her husband, two children and their 14-year-old dog, she didn't expect to end up in an apartment complex where mold covers some vents and her unit's air conditioning didn't work for months. All rights reserved. Architect, Special Projects Manager (Permits) fhug@topeka.org 620 SE Madison Topeka, KS 66607 McGinnis doesn't appear to bemore than two years behind on taxes for any of his Topeka properties, meaning potential foreclosure isn't on the county's radar. 2004 passed on December 10, 1990 and such use has been continuous to date. When Branch renewed his Evergreen lease in May, he said, theleasing agent at the timetold him to make a list of any problems he saw within his unit and pass it along to her. Grass very tall This grant will allow us to help over 50 families with property maintenance rehabilitation on their homes this year.. Property Maintenance Services in Topeka, KS | CityOf.com Join the one in a thousand users that support us financiallyif our library is useful to you, please pitch in. No on-street parking of abandoned or junk vehicles (Ord. The delay put her child with special needs at risk. -, Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti, English (Australia) (English (Australia)), English (South Africa) (English (South Africa)), Portuguese (Brazil) (Portuguese (Brazil)). We are very excited to be helping more low-income families in Topeka, said Corrie Wright, Division Director of Housing Services. This site does not support Internet Explorer. Teresa Baker, interim executive director of Topeka-based Housing and Credit Counseling Inc., said the age of McGinnis' local properties is in line with mostrental properties in Topeka. I consent to employees of the City of Topeka Property Maintenance Unit entering onto my . "If they were doing right, there would be nothing to show you," Hammack said of her landlord. A Topeka rehabilitation program for low-income households receives $750,000 grant, Topeka City Manager Steve Wade terminated, Signs of foul play found in Lawrence death investigation, Firefighters battled a vacant house fire near Lake Sherwood, Washburn hosts pole vault camp, reflects on winning USTFCCCA Program of the Year, Watchman keeps eye on heart to lower stroke risk, Lawrence Police make arrest in relation to a homicide investigation, Shriners Hospital Experience offers new perspective heading into Shrine Bowl, Property Maintenance Rehabilitation Program. City of Topeka Council District 8. But she wonders if they'll have to leave Topeka to find a place that meets their needs, is pet friendly andisn't owned by McGinnis. No person shall park a vehicle over or upon any of the unpaved area of a right-of-way or street that is not paved or designated as a location for the parking of vehicles. Typically, if a landlord fixes an issue just before their court date, he added, property maintenance will drop the case. Haugen, with Topekaproperty maintenance, said it would be ideal for a property owner like McGinnis to present his department with a comprehensive plan of action to correct compliance issues at allof the local properties they own. Thank you! John Hauser 8-1102). "What we find is many of the repairs don't get fixed until the last minute within the timeline, which he's legally allowed to do," Haugen said. Property Maintenance in Topeka, KS Share: Showing 1 - 1 out of 1 Filter by city, keyword, features & more Sort by: Relevance | Distance | Alphabetical Keywords Features Service Areas Clear Filters General Listings 1. She added issues of noncompliance tend to be more prominent among out-of-state landlords, as opposedto ones living in the area. 76 jobs Maintenance Technician IV Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority 3.3 Topeka, KS 66603 (Downtown area) Kansas & 2nd From $20.58 an hour Full-time 8 hour shift + 1 Easily apply A Maintenance Technician IV performs entry-level inspections and routine maintenance as required on bus fleet vehicles and provides building and ground "It's becoming exhausting, because thistaxes my staff.". The program helps low-income homeowners bring their homes up to code, by repairing roofs, guttering, siding, replacing windows, repairing collapsed or damaged sewer lines, or other repairs determined on a case-by-case basis. Many of the people we serve are not only low-income, but elderly, and sometimes disabled. Shawnee County Commissioner Kevin Cook said local officials don't have the ability to prevent a person from buying property in the area. According to documents available throughthe federal databasePublic Access to Court Electronic Records,McGinnis has been involved in bankruptcy proceedings in multiple states, including Oklahoma, Oregon and Kansas. Since 2015 the year Topeka's property maintenance division began managing an online database of code-compliance-related complaints close to 400 complaints regarding alleged issues at local McGinnis-owned propertieshave been submitted to the city, according to data compiled and provided by the property maintenance division. it's a long time coming but change gon come, 10.08.010 - Traffic Engineering Duties.CHAPTER 10.28 - THROUGH HIGHWAYS. You don't get them as quick as you used to.". City of Topeka Category: Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti Viewed: 97 times Neighborhood: City of Topeka Council District 6 Reported: on 10/31/2022 Service Request ID: 142205 Description Screen missing from windows and screen in torn on front door also asked. What regulations are designed to protect renters? - The Topeka Capital No person, property owner, occupant or tenant shall park or store, or permit to be parked or stored, more than one (1) trailer, including recreational vehicles or utility trailers, attached or unattached to a vehicle, on any residential lot. "Lew is a problem person whose properties are a mess," said Mike Haugen, director of property maintenance for the city of Topeka. It has been addressed and is now closed. The Internet Archive is a nonprofit fighting for universal access to quality information, powered by online donations averaging $17. The Internet Archive is a nonprofit fighting for universal access to quality information, powered by online donations averaging $17. Director Development Services rfaulkner@topeka.org 620 SE Madison Topeka, KS 66607 Fax: 785-368-3915 Rob Scott. Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti Archived To post your recommendation, please sign in or join your neighborhood on Nextdoor. Branch, who has lived at Evergreen since 2019, said he moved into the apartment complex after being homeless for a couple of years. They'll only get this one email and we won't add them to any email lists. Do something. Haugen said he couldn't thinkof another Topeka landlord with a higher number of cases against them than McGinnis. ; animals, TMC Title 6. Branch, though, thinks he'sthe only tenant in the building in which he lives. There is already an active case on this property. 2698, 2003) According to Shawnee County records, McGinnis bought local property as recently as 2020. According to Haugen, violations may fall into one of about six different categories housing, unsafe, sanitation, weeds, vehicle or housing condemnation. The address will not change. -, Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti, English (Australia) (English (Australia)), English (South Africa) (English (South Africa)), Portuguese (Brazil) (Portuguese (Brazil)). For those folks who do speak out about their living situations, Topeka City Council member Christina Valdivia-Alcala said it is imperative the community takes notice. on April 12, 2023. Property Maintenance, Code Violations & Graffiti Archived LOT / VEHICLE PREP Capital City Nissan of Topeka Topeka, KS 66612 (Monroe area) The resident told KAKE there had beenwater dripping from a light fixture and sewage leaking onto their bathroom floor. Capitol Federal Savings Bank will assist the city with this program, along with sponsoring the grant. No parking on private property of partially dismantled, non-operating, wrecked or junked vehicles. Richard Faulkner - Division Director Property Maintenance - LinkedIn Invite your neighbors and friends to utilize SeeClickFix so they can post, vote, and comment on issues in your neighborhood and city. Though it is unclear exactly how many units McGinnis oversees in Topeka, he said the majority ofhis apartment complexes locally have an occupancy rate greaterthan 90%. 1:00 Topeka's city government is preparing to significantly change its approach for dealing with overgrown grass and weeds in local neighborhoods. According to Shawnee County counselor Jim Crowl, unpaidproperty taxes may lead to foreclosures, but it depends on the type of property and how many years behind on taxes the owner is. About380of those complaints were investigated, and a majorityresulted in some sort of property violation being identified. Property Maintenance contact information. "All I really wanted from the complex, more than anything else," he said,"was an acknowledgment 'Hey we got your message. If the property owner has questions concerning the Citys determination, the owner can contact Property Maintenance staff by calling them at 785-368-3161. In November 2019 the City of Topeka established an ordinance to require the registrationof vacant properties and properties that are the subject of mortgage foreclosure proceedings. web pages "Why are they taking on more properties if they can't keep up the ones they have?" This title is included in your selections. "They are not newer rentals.". Hey ma I need to talk to you I'm not person u report I just need to talk to you. Thank you for using SCF. And thetext of a 2011 court case involvingMcGinnis and a property he had previously owned in Wichita indicates McGinnis may have lied about an apartment's occupancy rate in order to sell the property. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Capital-Journal. Branch said someone there told him they would have to pass the information along to the company's owners. "It was about 9:15 in the morning," Branch said, "and there was no one there. Municipal Code Title 8, Health and Sanitation Division 3. The allowable time period commences when the recreational vehicle is first parked, placed or stored in the driveway and terminates twenty-four (24) hours thereafter. This is an automated response. We need to be invested in looking at what their concerns and what their issues are, and we need to be invested in trying to help them solve those problems by holdingfolks more accountable.". Title 8 Div. 3 Property Maintenance | Topeka Municipal Code Invite your neighbors and friends to utilize SeeClickFix so they can post, vote, and comment on issues in your neighborhood and city. On the payment portal select payment type :Vacant Property Registration, If you do not have a case number please enter your name. We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us! Toggle navigation. Hammack said when her family's lease is up in February, they plan to move. The Public Health and Safety Committee is hosting a series of meetings during September, that includes property maintenance, substandard and vacant properties, overgrown and trashed lots. Hear from Kathy Votaw, Executive Director of the Topeka LULAC Senior Center, and learn how you can volunteer and assist your neighbors with mowing this summer. Thank you for using SCF. The address will not change. 2703, 2004) State Law References:Public health, K.S.A. Enter a comma separated list of emails. violations as defined by the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as codified in Chapter 8.60 of the latest version of the code of the city of Topeka, Kansas, hereafter referred to as the "Code". she asked. Whether this content is spam, contains foul language, or something else. A recreational vehicle may only be parked on a front driveway between the street and a residence of a residential lot for a maximum of four (4) occurrences during any thirty-day period. Copyright 2022 WIBW. Improper storage of inoperable vehicles can be a serious problem for neighborhoods. What Branch might have informed her of, if he had been able to get in touch, includes holes in multiple closets, openings at the rear of several below-counter kitchen cabinets, and a plywood wall thin enough for the nail holding his clock to his kitchen wall to poke through to his bathroom on the other side. This is an automated message. It has been addressed and is now closed. Each occurrence shall not exceed twenty-four (24) hours in duration. She said most landlords who receive a noncompliance notice do indeed resolve the issue at hand within the allotted 14 days. If this is a City emergency, such as a water main break, please call 368-3111. We will be on it as soon as we can.'". Early in June, Michaud had discovered the air conditioning in herapartment wasn't working properly, resulting in 90-degree temperatures inside her unit. or 10.20.050.C. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE UNIT . 2698, 2003) "We came here with the intent to buy a house," Hammack said. For decades, the city has had property. This is an automated message. We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us! Visit bit.ly/TopekaCOCPM for more information. Reported: on 05/15/2023. About a dozen are located near Washburn University, a handful are close to downtown Topeka, and others are concentrated along Fairlawn Road or in southwest Topeka, south of 29th St. Records show most of the local properties McGinnis owns many of which were built in the 1960s and 70swere bought in 2017 and 2018. Branchconsidered looking for another living arrangement this yearbut said his health prevented him from doing so. Topeka looks to cut down on overgrown grass, other code violations Uploaded by If this is an actual emergency, please call 9-1-1. 10.20.070 - Commercial VehiclesParking or Storing Prohibited. Thank you for the comments. Topeka Municipal Code Great landlords you never hear from their tenants.". Trianon Apartments & Townhomes, 1320 S.W. 1 follower 1 connection. More:It took more than a week for her landlord to fix the A/C. More than 60 complaints havebeen submitted so far this year, and more than a dozen were still under investigation when The Topeka Capital-Journal received the data July 30. As of Aug. 13, McGinnis was also more than $700,000 behind on property tax payments in Shawnee County, according to information available on the Shawnee County appraiser's website. Cross References:Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, TMC 2.205.080; ambulances, TMC 5.25.010 et seq. But I will say there are some landlords that don't care. Thank you for submitting this request, it has been received as service request #149002. "The whole goal of code enforcement is to get voluntary compliance," Haugen said. International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Section 302.8 - Motor Vehicles While City ordinance previously contained conditions in which motor vehicles on private property were considered a nuisance, the new IPMC has expanded on those issues. The maximum amount that can be awarded is $20,000 with a minimum of $2,500. To request an application, call 785-368-3711. The homeowner is not required to pay the grant back. Enter a comma separated list of emails. I found that a little bit odd, so I called the corporate office and explained the situation to them.". Topeka, KS 66607-1118 Fax: (785)368-3175 . This is an automated response. The Capital-Journal wasn't able to independently verify that. So he attempted to reach a property manager to report the issue. 10.20.050 - Recreational VehicleParking. McGinnis also said they provide tenants with a portable air conditioner if necessary though that wasn't true for Michaud. 2004 passed on December 10, 1990. and such use has been continuous to date. Hammack isfar from the only tenant in Topeka to come forward with complaints about a McGinnis-owned property. But about a dozen cases were resolved via "forced compliance," meaning the city took care of it and charged McGinnis for the work. Thank you for submitting this request, it has been received as service request #147539. But the nonprofit Better Business Bureau gave Eucalyptus Real Estate an "F" rating for failure to respond to complaints. The same Wichita Eagle article stated: "A lawsuit filed by a group of investors who bought the Linwood apartments from Macco in 2010 allege that Macco understated the complex's maintenance needs and overstated its revenue, profits and occupancy.". For his part, McGinnis denied allegations of unresponsiveness and said that if a tenant reports anissue, his property managers followup on it. This is an entry-level position with an excellent field-training program to . "It's just been really disappointing that we haven't been able to enjoy where we live.". "I know people in Oklahoma, so I've kind of done a little (asking around), 'Tell me about these people' and it's nothing good.". Continue a Commitment to Developing Neighborhoods - Topeka Property Maintenance Code Reminder - Motor Vehicles. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Since 2015 the year Topeka's property maintenance division began managing an online database of code-compliance-related complaints close to 400 complaints regarding alleged issues at. City of Topeka hiring Property Maintenance Inspector- Police Dept in The corporate office to which he referred was Eucalyptus Real Estate, 1300 Sovereign Road, Oklahoma City. Our next IPMC reminder will highlight changes regarding sidewalks and driveways, and premises identification requirements. No person, property owner, occupant or tenant shall park or store, or permit to be parked or stored, more than one (1) recreational vehicle attached or unattached to a vehicle, on any residential lot. This is an automated message. Please view ticket for staff comments. TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A City of Topeka program that helps low-income households received a $750,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. 620 SE Madison, Unit 13 Tel: (785)368-3161 . Join to view profile . Completed Projects. Mowing can be a challenge for our aging neighbors, but you can help! If this is an actual emergency, please call 9-1-1. It took nearly 10 days for personnel to resolve Michaud's A/Cissue, putting her daughter's life at risk and she wondered how much longer it might have taken to fix had multiple Topeka City Council members not stepped in to advocate on her behalf. The Emporia Gazette reported earlier this year that Eucalyptus Real Estate in April was about $1 million behind on property taxes it owed Lyon County. "Bad things happen to good people sometimes," he said. (Ord. Sorry, this issue does not have any images or videos. Thank you for submitting this request (#147539). The vacant property registration is to help address the deterioration, crime, and decline in property values. Violations that are not eligible include detached garages, weeds, trees, and trash removal. Location: 620 SE Madison Topeka, KS 66607 View Map. Discouraged, Branch attempted to appeal toMcGinnis directly. Property Maintenance Households considered eligible must be on the deed of the property and have an active property maintenance code violation, which must be for the house the person is living in. very dangerous to see oncoming traffic. . Baker, with HCCI,said if an apartment providesair conditioning to a tenant when they move in, the landlord is required by law to maintain it. Changing Our Culture of Property Maintenance Mowing Initiative PSA with "Most of our rentals are aging," she said. Of the code compliance cases where a violation was identified, most were resolved because McGinnis voluntarily complied with an order to fix the issue. 27th St., is where they settled, and Hammack soon discovered the unit had its fair share of flaws.