SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The South Charleston City Council approved three new ordinances at its meeting Thursday as part of an effort to curb dilapidated property and drug use.
The resolutions allow the city more authority in dealing with these issues directly, which could include punishments ranging from financial penalties or evicting residents.
South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said one case of drug addiction or mishandled property is “too many” for the city.
“Quite frankly, we’re going to make it uncomfortable,” he said. “If you’re doing drugs in our community, we don’t want you here.”
Mullens added the way the city addresses property owners has to change with the changes.
“We got to start thinking about those people in the neighborhood that are doing things right and are having to live in a neighborhood that has this nuisance next door to them,” he said.
Under one ordinance, the city would be allowed to declare properties where drugs are found as a safety hazard and close the building for use for a year.
A second resolution requires property owners to register any building that is unoccupied within a 90-day period.
Mullens said while he felt South Charleston is not as bad as other cities in West Virginia in terms of drug addiction, it is still a problem the city has to address.
“We’re trying to be aggressive to this issue,” he noted.