The Michigan Daily-Friday, April 18, 1980--Page9 INSPECTION DEPARTMENT WORKING TO EASE PROBLEMS City housing plagued by code violations (Continued from Page 1) inspection of a house on N. Thayer which is rented to students. HIS INSPECTION began in the basement of the building, where he searched for excessive storage of com- bustibles (paper, boxes, mattresses, etc.), examined the electrical panel, and carefully scrutinized the boiler or furnace. Peterson's eyes glanced around, up, Gand down each room he entered, checking for wall switches in each of the rooms, signs of.leaks in the ceilings, and exposed wires. "All you have to do is let your eyes roam," Peterson explained, "because you. know the things you are looking for." He checked under the sink for fire chases, which are potentially hazar- dous holes leading from the basement to the floors above which serve as tun- nels for smoke or fire. In the bathroom, e checked for adequate water pressure, cracks around the toilet or tub, making frequent comments in his notebook. A CERTIFICATE of Compliance (CC) is issued for those buildings that pass the inspection. If violations are cited, the owner is given.time to make the necessary repairs, and a reinspec- tion is made. If the owner does not make a reasonable effort to correct the violtions,.his CC is suspended, which -prohibits the owner from renting the property. If the owner still takes no ac- tion, a ticket is issued, and the owner may find himself in court. An owner of two buildings on Lawrence and Elizabeth Streets was issued seven tickets, totaling more than $1000, for renting his building without a valid CC. Inspectors occasionally encounter. some unusual code violations. In one case, a tenant had to walk outside and around his house in order to use the bathroom. On another occasion, a house owned by a nearly blind man in his 80s-who one inspector described as "incapacitated"-was found to have more than 40 code violations. The house's attic was packed with com- - bustible junk which, when removed, filled much of the front yard. According to reports filed by the in- spectors, common problems in many housing units appear to be the absence of smoke detectors, latches on doors which lead to the boiler or furnace rooms, cracked walls and ceilings, peeling paint, fire chases, and the ab- sence of a second means of exiting a building which is at least three stories high. BECAUSE RENTAL units are in- spected no more frequently than every two years, a house could gradually fall into a very dilapidated state, and the inspectors would not know anything about it unless the tenant called them to complain. Peterson said inspectors cannot "police the premises." ' Arvil Patton, chief housing inspector, explained, "Once we see a violation, we can take care of it. The problem occurs once we leave the place." Yadlosky said he encourages tenants to first call their landlords if they have a complaint, and if that does not work, to call the inspection department. An inspector would then be sent to examine the complaint. Because of the housing shortage in the city - the vacancy rate is about .7 per cent; and the Department of Housing and Urban Development states that a seven per cent vacancy rate is healthy - and the immense work load of the inspectors, the inspectors follow a list of priorities. Fire-related violations are at the top of the list. Ceiling and wall cracks, which sit at the bottom of the list, often go uncited. TENANTS UNION attorney Cahill acknowledges that this occurs, but agrees with the practice. "They always bend them (the housing codes)," he said. "They have to. You have to ignore the fact that a room is two square feet smaller than the required size rather than shut the room down." Yadlosky said a problem exists in ambiguous language in the code, which leaves it open to numerous inter- pretations. "I could probably go into any place in the city and find minor violations," he explained, "and five inspectors would maybe inspect the places a little bit dif- ferently." HE SAID one method that has helped resolve this problem is weekly meetings with the inspectors to discuss interpretations of the code. The result, explained Yadlosky, is "more con- sistency now than we ever had." Jonathan Rose, director of Student Legal Services, said he believes the, high rent in the city is more of a problem than poor maintenance of ren- tal housing. (Figures compiled from the 1970 census show Washtenaw Coun- ty had the second highest median con- tract rent in the country.) But Rose also said he believes there has not been a change in the quality of housing, and stated that the inspection system is not a sufficient means for upgrading the quality of housing in the city. He said the occasionally long processes of inspecting a building, giving warnings and issuing tickets "allows the landlord to duck and scurry." Rose argues, instead, that tenants should withhold rent if their landlords have not been responsible to their requests for repairs. Valuable coupon worth $2.24 FREEI IBuy ONE Mr. Tony's Sub* al 1 and a large drink.. .get an identical Sub & large I drink FREEI N EXPIRES APRIL 24, 1980 I .One coupon per customer I I This coupon offer applies only to Mr Tony's Regular SubmarinesI II PIZZA and SUBMARINES I 1327 S. University I Ann Arbor, Mi 663-0511 I I FOR PICK-UP ONLY - ---us----------------SIEWE nni E mir. -- Court OKs state pxrimary preparation LANSING (UPI)-The Michigan John Pirich, representing the clerks' Court of Appeals vacated a temporary associaiton, said local governments lower court order yesterday which only received partial reimbursement blocked Michigan's presidential from the state for costs incurred in the primary, but left the door open for fur- 1976 primary and there is no guarantee ther consideration when a final decision they will receive any money for this is reached. year's vote. The appeals decision apparently will "If the Headlee measure doesn't ap- allow a trial on the case to proceed in ply here, what does it apply to?" he Ingham county Circuit Court. asked. Judge Ray Hotchkiss last week Assistant Attorney General Robert ssued a 'preliminary injunction Ward claimed the primary, is not locking the May 20 primary. He ex- covered by the Headlee amendment. tended that injunction yesterday and Even if it is covered, he said, the state broadened it to halt preparations, for is not in violation unless it actually the election as well. reduces the level of reimbursement. Hotchkiss said he would issue a final State Elections Director George Her- ruling April21. stek testified an estimated $500,000 The appeals court vacated both or- already has been spent on election ders, saying the local government of- preparations, including ballot printing ficials who' brought the suit did not and the handling of absentee ap- prove they face "irreparable injury" if plications. the primary is held. Michigan Republican Director The panel ruled against staying Richard Adams testified the party has proceedings in the lower court, no contingency plans .for selection however, and said its decision "is presidential nominating delegates if the without prejudice to an appeal on the primary is dumped. merits from any final order the trial court may enter." The initial order by Hdtchkiss was taken to the appellate court by state At- Do a T ree torney General Frank Kelley. The injunction was issued at the request of the Michigan Municipal a Favor: Clerks Association and the Michigan .Townships Association which argued the primary will be an expensive bur- ReCy CI e den on local communities with no guarantee of state reimbursement. Your Da1 ly They charged the primary violates the new Headlee Tax Limitation Amen- dment which requires the state to pick up the tab for services it forces local governments to provide and questioned Celebrate Lost Class y the validity of the election itself. CHANCE Hotchkiss issued an injunction again-WITH st the primary in a similar case four Ellen Mcilwaine years ago, only to be overturned by the higher cours. Tuesday, April AdU r The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club A M A SPRIN CONCERT Leonard Johnson, Director OFFICE OF MAJOR EVENTS PRESENTS Ii EAXTT in concert With Special Guests John Lee Hooker Sipple Wallace APRIL 27 -8pm HILL AUDFTORIUM 1 with the Friars h °R ~_.s, Y _ , In. -... .-s JJ __ All seats reserved, 5.50, 6.50, 7.50 available now at Michigan Union Box Office Where House Records, Huckleberry Party Store. For mail order, send stamped, self addressed envelope with a certified check or money order to: Bonnie Raitt, Major Events, 530 South State, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. For more information call 764-2071. "li-n. Gee Club, 1024Unw,,trei~nBtul iu, An Arbor.M 48109 i a i t . 3 ' . § 4 P II I y Y A g Y y [5 A ' k y j J g 1 L J CUSTOMER INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS HOW GM "PROJECT CENTERS" CREIFE CARS FROM CONCEPT TO CUSTOMER IN THREE YEARS AND THREE BILLION DOLLARS r It 'I THE DIAG Rain or shine, the diag is a crossroad of much campus activity. Nice weather brings frisbees, speeches, rallies, and a place ,for relaxation between classes. The "M" in the middle of the diag, which has been a tradition since 1953, is still avoided by most students with fear they will flunk their first exam. The Michigan Daily has also been a tradition since 1890. Another Michigan tradition you can enjoy Subscribe today for spring-summer term ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $6.50 for spring and summer ($7.00 by mail outside Ann Arbor) $3.50 for spring or summer ($4.00 by mail outside Ann Arbor) CEun TnT. 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