By Mike Hazlip–
The Citrus Heights City Council on Thursday voted 4-0 to assess a $105,000 lien against a property at 7210 Greenback Ln. to recover costs related to nuisance abatement and demolition of an abandoned building at the location.
Attorney Veronica Donovan, of Jones & Mayer law firm, gave a presentation to the council during the May 14 special meeting that detailed a long history of problems with the property, as part of a formal hearing. Donovan called Greg Anderson, Citrus Heights’ chief building official, as a witness.
Anderson testified that the commercial building, owned by George Petker, had been vacant since 2011. He said Petker refused to cooperate with the city’s efforts to inspect the property.
Petker was given notice and opportunity to speak at the May 14 hearing, according to Anderson, but did not attend the meeting. Prior attempts by The Sentinel to reach Petker have been unsuccessful.
City documents show a history of code violations and blight complaints at the property. Anderson said the electrical panel in the building had been vandalized, and power was shut off. The building was declared a public nuisance May 21, 2019.
From December: Commercial building demolished on Greenback Lane
A fire in July last year severely damaged the structure, and firefighters reportedly had difficulty accessing the building due to the amount of debris.
Photographs shown during Donovan’s presentation depict trash and debris in the interior and exterior of the building, and fire damage to the ceiling. Anderson told the council the debris was four to five feet deep.
The city’s municipal code gives authority to abate a public nuisance if the property owner does not bring the property into compliance. The city gave Petker an abatement notice on June 10, 2019, followed by an abatement warrant in November.
The warrant was executed over several weeks in November and December last year, which included the building’s demolition. Anderson testified the debris was treated as hazardous waste after hypodermic needles were found at the site.
The council’s 4-0 vote allows the city to assess a lien against the property to recover costs related to the nuisance abatement. Councilman Bret Daniels was absent from the meeting and did not vote.
