City: Don’t cut corners on needed permits, registration

ALPENA -- Alpena residents who don't abide by local codes and ordinances can expect to receive citations that could potentially hit them hard in the wallet.

The city is facing a wave of people who are not registering their rental properties, pulling needed permits for construction projects, officials say, while others are letting their homes fall into disarray.

Building Official Don Gilmet said when city operations were cut back during the shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, the building department fell behind on some enforcement issues and inspections and it is still playing catch up.

That means people caught cutting corners or ignoring city rules and regulations can expect a ticket up to $500. If the issues for the tickets aren't addressed, Gilmet said, follow-up citations will be issued as well.

"What is going to happen is someone is going to get a ticket, a ticket, and another ticket, and hopefully eventually when they end up paying $1,000, they have a change of heart and take care of their business," Gilmet said.

Gilmet said the building officials will talk to property owners and work with them to help get their issues worked out. But, Gilmet said, if there is no effort being made to solve the problem, citations will be issued.

"We want to get compliance the easiest way possible, but right now people aren't doing what they need to," he said.

Blight and unsightly homes and property are a big issue in Alpena and it is getting bigger, Gilmet said. He said there are many homes that have trash scattered around, as well as other items like old cars and bikes.

People doing construction jobs and appliance installation without proper permits and inspections are also on the rise, Gilmet said. He said contractors are busy, so more people are doing the work themselves or hiring non-licensed people to do the work for them.

That, Gilmet said, could lead to something like a new furnace being installed incorrectly, where it creates a health issue and isn't up to code.

"Maybe it is put in right and maybe it isn't," he said. "Sometimes they are installed correctly and sometimes not, and they become unsafe and dangerous. People hire someone who isn't licensed and doesn't know the process. We find out and we can come in and have it all torn out. It would be sad to have someone spend $10,000 on insulation and drywall and have us come in and say 'Tear it all out.'"

Gilmet said people who need to clean up their property should do so and landlords who don't have their rental properties registered with the city need to, so the property can be inspected.

He said people who want to know how to acquire a permit or find a licensed contractor for construction can contact the building department at city hall.

"Like I said, we are willing to work with people, but we need people to work with us too," he said.