Property Stats
| Blighted Properties | |
| A blighted property is a property which violates City structural codes, or properties which are labeled a problem site by the Office of Economic Development. The City identifies blighted properties annually, and publishes this information for public use in the following fiscal year. In 2022, the City recorded 1,764 blighted properties – a 2.7% decrease from 1812 blighted properties recorded in the previous year. |  |
| Number of Chronic Problem Properties Remedied | |
| A chronic problem property is a property which presents health, safety, and welfare concerns to community members. In general, these properties are labeled chronically problematic when property owners have failed to take corrective action towards alleviating nuisance conditions. Programs are remedied when the property owner has remedied any reported violations. Chronic problem properties are also included in numbers reporting blighted properties. In 2022, the City recorded 22 remedied chronic problem properties. |  |
| Number of Properties Taken to the Public Officer Hearing | |
| Public Officer Hearings occur monthly. During these sessions, the Public Officer hears property cases and has discretion to issue orders requiring actions from property owners. In extreme cases, a Public Officer may require demolition of an unsafe structure. In 2022, there were 12 total Public Officer Hearings during which 161 properties were heard. |  |
| Number of Demolitions Completed | |
| A demolition occurs when the City chooses to demolish an unsafe structure. Demolitions should only be carried out when a structure is deemed hazardous for public safety. Therefore, the city does not set a specific annual target. Typically, demolished properties are blighted properties that have been neglected for too long. Demolishing a property decreases the number of blighted properties in the city. |  |
| Number of Inspections Performed | |
| An inspection occurs when a public safety inspector visits a property to a) evaluate for any potential code violations or b) evaluate progress towards alleviating existing violations. Violations commonly contribute to the number of blighted properties. Data is recorded and compared on a quarterly basis and is recorded cumulatively (i.e., a measure for Q3 also includes figures recorded for Q1 and Q2). |  |
| Number of Violations – Inquiries & Violations Found | |
| A violation inquiry occurs when a citizen calls in an inspector to evaluate a property for the presence of violations, OR when an inspector records violations noted in the field. A violation occurs when an inspector finds a property that is in violation of city codes after responding to an inquiry. Fewer violations typically indicate a lower number of properties with code violations, which, in turn, indicates a lower prevalence of blighted properties. Data is recorded and compared on a quarterly basis and is recorded cumulatively (i.e., a measure for Q3 also includes figures recorded for Q1 and Q2). |  |
 | |
| Codes Enforcement | ||||||||
| It is typical for the City of Baker Springs to enforce codes pertaining to activities precluded by the City Code. Instances of code enforcement are recorded and reported on a monthly basis. Enforcement occurs when a transgressor’s activities violate a section of the City Code. Instances of code enforcement include the following types of enforcement instances: Dumping – the enforcement of codes pertaining to the illegal discarding of solid waste on a property without permit Emergency Demo – the enforcement of codes leading to the demolition of a property by the City when a property is deemed an immediate danger to life, health, or property Housing – the enforcement of codes pertaining to dilapidated facades Litter – the enforcement of codes pertaining to instance in which an individual knowingly discards litter on any public or private property without the instant remove of that litter Overgrowth – the enforcements of codes pertaining to instances in which a property has accumulated overgrown vines, underbrush, or grass over 12 inches in height Vehicle – the enforcement of codes pertaining to instances in which a vehicle has been parked on public or private property in violation of city code | ||||||||
 |