FLINT, Mich. — Mayor Karen Weaver is pleased to announce the addition of a Blight Hearings Bureau at Flint City Hall.
“We have secured grant funding to create a Blight Hearings Bureau to help address the abundance of abandoned, unoccupied, and poorly maintained properties in Flint,” said Mayor Weaver. “We want our city to thrive and be a nice and safe place to live, work and play. My hope is that the addition of this Blight Hearings Bureau will be a vehicle to help us build on the progress we’ve been making in this area.”
Local Attorney, Torchio Feaster has been selected to serve as the City’s new Blight Administrative Hearing Officer. In compliance with state law, Attorney Feaster will hold hearings for those cited for blight violations throughout the City of Flint. Blight violations residents could be cited for include: tall grass, weeds, garbage on lawns along with other nuisance violations determined by Neighborhood Safety Officers dispatched throughout all nine wards in Flint.
Hearing Officer Feaster is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Dayton School of Law. He served as a clerk for the Honorable Jennie Barkey and has worked in private practice since 2008.
“I am excited to be involved in this new role,” said Feaster. “I think the addition of the Blight Hearings Bureau will be a good thing for the city of Flint and its residents. I am glad to be able to use my experience and knowledge of the law to assist in Flint’s recovery.”
Hearings could begin in the next couple of weeks as residents start to receive notices. Hearing Officer Feaster will hear from residents who disagree with the tickets they receive. The hearings will take place two days a week in the new Blight Hearings Bureau, located on the basement level of Flint City Hall (Municipal Center), Room 6. First time violators will have the opportunity to avoid penalties by quickly addressing the violation cited for, and cleaning up the area of concern.
“We are working to make the City of Flint better on all fronts,” said Weaver. “We are listening to the concerns of residents, and the new Blight Hearings Bureau and Hearing Officer is a result of that. Progress is being made in Flint.”
Residents with questions can contact the Blight Hearings Bureau at (810) 766-7146 ext. 2087. For additional information on violations and related fines, please see the attached brochure.
