Code Enforcement NOT following Federal Asbestos guidelines - poison our air???

[JaxUnicorn]

Well just look at what I found as a result of a public records request!  Apparently the Municipal Code Compliance Division (MCCD) - specifically Kim Scott as Chief - has committed SEVERAL environmental violations, as evidenced by the attached, and it has been ongoing for years.  So not only has MCCD not been following Federal guidelines and demolishing historic structures without the required Section 106 review, they have ALSO not been following yet another Federal guideline regarding asbestos removal. 

Once something's done, it is done.  Just one more illegal, inaccurate, unethical activity conducted by Code Enforcement uncovered because they would not stop demolishing our historic structures.  I wonder how many other things we will find that MCCD has done illegally/inappropriately as we keep digging???

Sent an email to Senator Bill Nelson's office.  Below is a synopsis:

.....thought you would find the attached document interesting as well.  It is an internal Asbestos Violation Referral report by a Jacksonville Environmental Specialilst.  In this report she cites Kimberly Scott, Chief of Jacksonville's Municipal Code Compliance Division for the following violations on 109 properties (14 of which were in Springfield's historic district).

Violations
• Failure to provide notification of renovation when above threshold quantities of RACM is to be disturbed
• Failure to thoroughly inspect
• Failure to properly dispose of debris
• Failure to adequately wet
• Failure to have at least one on-site representative trained in the provisions
• Of 40 CFR 61 present during the stripping, removal, handling or Disturbance of RACM

I disovered this while digging through over 4,000 emails provided as a result of my public record request for information regarding the demolition of 1504 Myrtle Avenue.  Please let me know if this is something that you are also interested in learning more about.  There are thousands of emails that I have yet to be able to go through yet.

Thank you,

Kim Pryor, Community Liaison
Preservation SOS
(904) 465-1555

[sheclown]

Great find, Kim. 

So while Nicole was arguing with the demo contractor, the air she was breathing was being polluted with asbestos?

This is a picture of 1630 being torn down.  Torn down with NSP 1 funds.  (mentioned on page 5)

Not only were the environmental reviews (of which section 106 is a part) not done -- not even the most basic precautions were taken to protect the neighborhood.

Talk about "neighborhood stabilization"....

geez.

[sheclown]

...and multiply this by 109.

[movedsouth]

yuck

[Springfielder]

Wow, Kim...this is a great discovery...and disturbing to know how Kimberly Scott willingly allowed the citizens to be subjected to asbestos while she had house after house bulldozed down. Shame on her, shame on the COJ to allow this lawbreaker to continue getting a paycheck

[movedsouth]

Well, but with a possible landmarking by JHPC breathing down their neck, things got a bit "tight" about that asbestos survey:

On Apr 23, 2013, at 3:20 PM, "Mosier, Bryan" <BMosier@coj.net> wrote:

We had talked previously about it taking 2 days for abatement. Will you be able to start demolition immediately upon completion of the abatement? Have you guys pulled the demo permit already?

Bryan Mosier
City of Jacksonville
Municipal Code Compliance Division

From: "Melissa" <melissalloyd_96@yahoo.com>
To: "Mosier, Bryan" <BMosier@coj.net>
Subject: Code Compliance
Date: Tue, Apr 23, 2013 3:26 PM



Permit is pulled and I have already done my 10 day notification so I will get Tom to sign off on doing the demo early and we should be good to go.

From: Mosier, Bryan
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 3:42 PM
To: Griffin, Tom
Subject: Fwd: Code Compliance


Tom, I don't know when the 10 days is up but with your permission, we would like to start demolition on Friday. The asbestos abatement will begin tomorrow and be completed before demolition commences.

E-mail sent Tuesday, Asbestos abatement Wd/Th... Friday: Let the excavators roll! Inspections?

Just in time for Kim Scott to report that its too late to safe the building:

Scott, Kimberly <KSCOTT@coj.net>
Apr 23

to Calvin, Terrance
Calvin, please note the following message from Autumn Martinage of Planning and Development Department, regarding a planned meeting for tomorrow.  Recently, MCCD released 1504 Myrtle Avenue, N. to a contractor to commence demolition.  The abatement process began last with asbestos survey, leading to asbestos removal, which will start tomorrow.

Even though Joel was a bit more optimistic:

McEachin, Joel <MCEACHIN@coj.net>
Apr 18

to gloria.devall2.

Gloria, the owner sought landmark designation back in 2002.  Although we found it to meet the necessary number of criteria for designation, the Commission at the time was concerned about the condition of the house, particularly the front porch, and did not support the application.   They did request, the owners seek designation after these issues were corrected.  I met with the owners (Myers Sisters) last week, and was informed of their initiative to have the building stabilized with anticipation of rehabilitation.  If designated, could be a possible mothball candidate.  You could bring it up again to the Commission as an addendum item.

Too bad... so who says the COJ can't be fast and efficient, cut through a lot of red tape in no time? As long as it destroys our history and enriches the right people, no problem!

[sheclown]

So even if they actually do an asbestos abatement, they still violate federal guidelines.

Sounds like a lot of potential lawsuits.

[sheclown]

Well, but with a possible landmarking by JHPC breathing down their neck, things got a bit "tight" about that asbestos survey:

On Apr 23, 2013, at 3:20 PM, "Mosier, Bryan" <BMosier@coj.net> wrote:

We had talked previously about it taking 2 days for abatement. Will you be able to start demolition immediately upon completion of the abatement? Have you guys pulled the demo permit already?

Bryan Mosier
City of Jacksonville
Municipal Code Compliance Division

From: "Melissa" <melissalloyd_96@yahoo.com>
To: "Mosier, Bryan" <BMosier@coj.net>
Subject: Code Compliance
Date: Tue, Apr 23, 2013 3:26 PM



Permit is pulled and I have already done my 10 day notification so I will get Tom to sign off on doing the demo early and we should be good to go.

From: Mosier, Bryan
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 3:42 PM
To: Griffin, Tom
Subject: Fwd: Code Compliance


Tom, I don't know when the 10 days is up but with your permission, we would like to start demolition on Friday. The asbestos abatement will begin tomorrow and be completed before demolition commences.

E-mail sent Tuesday, Asbestos abatement Wd/Th... Friday: Let the excavators roll! Inspections?

Just in time for Kim Scott to report that its too late to safe the building:

Scott, Kimberly <KSCOTT@coj.net>
Apr 23

to Calvin, Terrance
Calvin, please note the following message from Autumn Martinage of Planning and Development Department, regarding a planned meeting for tomorrow.  Recently, MCCD released 1504 Myrtle Avenue, N. to a contractor to commence demolition.  The abatement process began last with asbestos survey, leading to asbestos removal, which will start tomorrow.

Even though Joel was a bit more optimistic:

McEachin, Joel <MCEACHIN@coj.net>
Apr 18

to gloria.devall2.

Gloria, the owner sought landmark designation back in 2002.  Although we found it to meet the necessary number of criteria for designation, the Commission at the time was concerned about the condition of the house, particularly the front porch, and did not support the application.   They did request, the owners seek designation after these issues were corrected.  I met with the owners (Myers Sisters) last week, and was informed of their initiative to have the building stabilized with anticipation of rehabilitation.  If designated, could be a possible mothball candidate.  You could bring it up again to the Commission as an addendum item.

Too bad... so who says the COJ can't be fast and efficient, cut through a lot of red tape in no time? As long as it destroys our history and enriches the right people, no problem!

and if this address seems familiar, it is this property ...

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,18082.0.html

"Durkeeville 100 year old house in danger of demolition"

[JaxUnicorn]

An additional public records request has turned up the following email from Dana Brown in the City's Environmental Quality Division apparently accusing Kim Scott and the Municipal Code Compliance Division of fudging EQD stamps.  How much more of this will be uncovered as we continue to dig???

[JaxUnicorn]

Don't know yet.....

[ChriswUfGator]

so was the stamp forged?

Somebody probably walked down the hall and used the stamp...but either way fraudulent.

[JaxUnicorn]

Based on the documents I have, it appears as though the forms are pre-copied and the addresses were filled in after.  If you hold documents on top of each other and hold them to the light, they line up PERFECTLY, including the placement of the stamp on the form.  And you can clearly see where someone has used "white out" and written a new address on the form.

[mtraininjax]

Wow, Kim...this is a great discovery...and disturbing to know how Kimberly Scott willingly allowed the citizens to be subjected to asbestos while she had house after house bulldozed down. Shame on her, shame on the COJ to allow this lawbreaker to continue getting a paycheck

WOW, what a nice black eye for the "I'm With Alvin" crowd, nice to see your fearless leader who only appears on camera to legislate is tearing down houses, destroying communities.

Now if only the handful of residents who give a damn in Springfield could lobby and form a group to spread this cheer to the Brown Campaign at every pit stop, it would be wonderful to have a Mayor who gives a damn about this city rather than the makeup on his face.