SPANISH FORT, Ala.— A public hearing Monday—held on violation of the city’s unsafe-structures ordinance—concerned property at 7679 Douglas St.

Charles Autrey, the property owner’s eldest son, said his father left that land to his family when he died more than 40 years ago and the home “has sentimental value,” he said.

“We going to fix the place back up,” Autrey said. “Just give us a chance.”

No one has lived in the house for about three to five years; the house has no water, electricity, gas or septic tank, Autrey said.

“It looks like you could start from the ground up,” Mayor Joe Bonner said. “To me it would be cheaper to tear the house down and cut the grass.”

Autrey said he would work on the home a little bit at a time to bring it back up to par.

The first thing that will be done to the property is pick up debris this weekend, then paint the home. Autrey said he would come up with a workable plan to restore the home and will first work on the house’s exterior.

City Attorney David Conner said the home is a liability to the property owner if someone comes on the property and is injured.

Councilman Tom Sawyer proposed that the owner put “no trespassing” signs on the home’s exterior to prevent liability.

Conner said that can help, but small children may be unable to read the sign and that could still prompt legal action, under the attractive nuisance doctrine.

The property owner has 14 days to submit a remediation plan that is acceptable, Conner said.

A resolution to this violation will be discussed at the Nov. 17 meeting.

Another public hearing—on property at 7561 Douglas St., also in violation of the city’s unsafe-structures ordinance—was held. The uninhabited is in a state of disrepair.

“I am working on it continually,” the homeowner said. “It would cost too much to repair it.”

Demolition of the property is underway, city officials said.

Also Monday:

During the organizational meeting Monday prior to the regular meeting, the council was joined by Judge James V.  Roberts Jr., who gave the council the oath of office.

Council members also appointed Councilman Mike McMillan as “pro tempore,” which means he will represent the council on the planning commission and report any discussion back to the council members.

The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place—at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and 31—in the Prodisee Center.