Shepherd council discusses run-down structures

SHEPHERD — While the Shepherd City Council took no action regarding a resident’s request to do something about dilapidated buildings, the matter was deferred to the police department.

City Secretary Debra Hagler said council members directed city resident William Lee to the Shepherd Police Department over homes that had been abandoned at its March 10 meeting.

Lee said there were numerous dilapidated properties — one burned, others abandoned — that may be used as drug houses and wanted the city to take action.

Hagler said that it was not the city’s goal to take property from owners, but instead have the owners to do the right thing.

She did say that if the police department takes no action, the matter would be taken up by the city’s substandard building committee.

In other business, the council:

• approved placement of a mobile home for Margarito Deleon on Scenic Drive;
• tabled a mobile home variance request as the owner has to buy different home;
• tabled a request from Brenda Myers regarding permitting fees for a emergency crisis center until the city attorney does some research into the matter;
• agreed to a rate increase from CenterPoint Energy;
• decided not to intervene in a request from Entergy regarding a new transmission line; and
• tabled a rent increase on the community center to research changes to its rental policy.