Aldermen approve condemnation orders for several properties for clean up (8.4.2026)
Seated left to right:
- Franita Farr – Ward 3
- Parks Smith – Ward 1
- Drew Horn – Ward 2
- Keith Conlee – Alderman at Large
- Will Tucker – Ward 4
- Jeff Olson – Mayor
- Megan Kirk – City Clerk
- Regan Russell – City Attorney
You can view a copy of the agenda by clicking here and watch a 35-minute video of the meeting below, courtesy of our videographer Kim Davis.
(Timestamp 1:48) New Albany Police Department has applied for a grant of $10,062.64 from the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security (MOHS) to reimburse the department overtime for traffic safety enforcement. Chief Chris Robertson explained that the department had applied for and received this grant several times. The board approved application for the grant.
(Timestamp 3:36) Building Inspector Eric Thomas took the floor. At the most recent zoning meeting, a request from Robert Bishop at 301 Butler to subdivide an existing oversized lot into two conforming lots was approved. Thomas also requested to reschedule the hearing for 503 Hwy 30 West (request to rezone from SN-8 to SN 5) to September 1.
Property clean up at 500 Clark St.
(Timestamp 4:50) Code Enforcement Officer Joey Watson took the podium to address code enforcement for a property clean-up at 500 Clark St., owned a Ms. King. Watson said that the property owner had made progress in cleaning up her lot and left it to the board as to how they wanted to proceed. Board Attorney Regan Russell said the board could either delay the hearing to give her more time to clean up or condemn it and have the city go in to clean it up.
Watson explained to Alderman-at-Large Keith Conlee that the situation had been ongoing since 2018. The city would send notices, the owner would clean up, then situation would deteriorate and the city would send another notice. Ward 3 Alderwoman Franita Farr said that neighbors have been complaining about the conditions at the property, namely a cluttered yard surrounding the home.
Ms. King expressed frustration with the demands and asked to know what specifically needed to be removed. She also said that she was experiencing health problems and had to do the work by herself.
Ultimately, the board decided to declare the property a safety hazard. This gives the property owner another 30 days (at least) to remedy the situation, and empowers the city to intervene if the problem persists. If the city does have to clear the property, costs may be assessed to the owner.
118 Tate Drive
(Timestamp 18:06) Next was 118 Tate Drive owned by a Mr. Clayton. Mr. Clayton has a rent-paying tenant at the property, a Mr. Allen. Similar to the case of 500 Clark St., the property has become cluttered and an eyesore. However, the stuff cluttering the lawn apparently belongs to the tenant. Both Mr. Clayton and Mr. Watson explained their attempts to reach out to and work with Mr. Allen, which have yielded little result. Although Mr. Allen is paying rent, Mr. Clayton is ready to move ahead with eviction proceedings against Mr. Allen due to the condition of the property.
Regan Russell again advised the board to move ahead with a condemnation order to give the city the option of coming in to clean up the property after 30 days. The city may or may not move ahead with the clean up depending on whether Mr. Allen is still in the property and whether the situation has improved.
Any clean up costs for the city are generally assessed to the owner. However, since the property owner was not the one responsible for the clutter, the city has discretion as to whether to assess him for cleanup.
The board followed Mr. Russell’s recommendation.
706 Shady Grove Road
(Timestamp 26:40) The next property discussed was 706 Shady Grave Road, owned by a Mrs. Cooper. The owner’s husband was present. Once again the issue was cluttered and potentially unsafe conditions at the property. Mr. Watson said the owners had been making progress in clearing their property since receiving notice. The owner’s husband said that they would continue to make progress and that he planned to remove a lot of the clutter from the yard, which he said belonged to a family member. He also expressed embarrassment at the situation and acknowledged things had gotten out-of-hand.
As with the previous properties, the board voted to issue a condemnation to empower the city to intervene after 30 days if the situation is not substantially improved.
Mr. Watson then asked to set hearings for two other properties: 201 Sycamore Dr. and 204 Hwy 15 South. The board set those hearings for September 1, 2026. Watson also asked for a hearing on condemning the structure at 211 East Main at next month’s meeting and the board approved the request.
(33;33) The board then proceeded with the Consent Agenda. The meeting then adjourned until September 1, 2026.
