Corinth Property Cleanup Targets Old Lusk Funeral Home

Corinth property cleanup efforts are moving forward again after the Corinth Board of Mayor and Aldermen cleared the way for city crews to deal with the vacant former Lusk Funeral Home on Martin Luther King Drive, along with overgrown railroad land and a Tate Street lot. The actions came during a recent meeting that also included a library renovation contract, new hires, and a preservation commission appointment.

Corinth property cleanup: three sites adjudicated

The board voted to adjudicate several properties, a step that lets the city’s code enforcement office move ahead with cleanup when owners have not addressed problems themselves. According to the Daily Corinthian’s report on the meeting, the properties included:

• The old Lusk Funeral Home on Martin Luther King Drive, a vacant red brick building across from City Road Temple CME Church. The board held a public hearing on the property before voting, and the building is slated to be demolished.
• Southern Railroad Co. property at Young Street and Wick Street, where the city has received numerous complaints about overgrowth.
• 1609 Tate Street, which also received an adjudication vote.

Under Mississippi law, cities may declare a parcel a menace to public health, safety and welfare after notice and a hearing, then clean it up if the owner does not. The cost of that work can be assessed against the property.

A strong year for demolitions

Corinth Code Enforcement Officer Kim Ratliff told the board the past year has been a productive one for removing problem structures. “This has probably been our best year for demolitions, particularly,” Ratliff said, noting that six or seven demolitions were completed over the past year at no cost to taxpayers.

The city has been working through a list of addresses as part of its ongoing property cleanup push, and more properties are expected to come before the board in future meetings.

Other business before the Corinth board

Aldermen handled several other items during the same meeting:

• Corinth Library renovation: The board accepted a $1,680,542 bid from Henderson Commercial Contracting for bathroom renovation work at the library.
• Eagle Scout landscaping project: Daniel Dodd of Troop 27 received approval for an Eagle Scout landscaping project at North Madison and North Polk streets.
• Veterans memorial: The board approved $20,000 to Tool Slingers for work on a veterans memorial.
• Personnel: Aldermen approved hiring for firefighter and waste laborer positions.
• Preservation commission: Jamie Gore was appointed to the city’s preservation commission.

How to report a problem property in Corinth

Residents who have concerns about overgrown lots, abandoned buildings or other code issues in their neighborhood can contact the City of Corinth’s code enforcement office at City Hall. Complaints from residents, like those about the Young Street railroad property, often help put a site on the city’s radar.

For more recent city news, see our roundup on the Polk Street Bridge reopening and the latest Alcorn County news roundup.

Source: Daily Corinthian