Struthers keeps after property owners

Six more residents are to be arraigned on maintenance citations today.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Citing residents for failing to maintain their properties and storing inoperable or unlicensed vehicles in their yards and driveways is brisk business for the city, even busier than last year, when 353 citations were issued, said John P. Sveda, safety-service director.
Although he couldn't give an exact number, Sveda said the number of citations issued so far this year definitely exceeds the number issued by the same time last year.
Between April 12 and 16, seven residents appeared in court on citations ranging from storing inoperable vehicles in their yards to failing to maintain gutters and downspouts on their houses.
An arrest warrant was issued for another resident, who failed to appear for his arraignment.
Who appeared
Alpha Russ of Riffle Street was fined $50 plus court costs for failing to maintain the exterior of his house and $25 plus court costs for failing to maintain his roof. Citations for unlicensed/inoperable vehicles were dismissed during the April 12 trial. All of Russ' violations were corrected.
Joseph Carbon Jr. of West Haywood Avenue was fined $50 plus court costs for storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles after pleading no contest to the citations during his arraignment April 16. He was found guilty.
Troy M. Fares of West Omar Street, also cited with storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles, was ordered to pay court costs.
Susan L. Tabak of Brookview Drive, cited for failing to maintain a house on Wilson Street, was fined $50 plus court costs after pleading no contest and being found guilty.
Warrant issued
A warrant was issued for Paul F. Griffiths of East Midlothian Boulevard, who failed to appear for arraignment April 16 on citations of storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles at a Pine Street property.
Robert Lightner of Seventh Street and Robert W. Compton of Poland Avenue were to go on trial today. Lightner's citation is for storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles; Compton's citation is for failing to maintain gutters and downspouts.
James R. Zagotti of Herman Street will go on trial Sept. 10. He pleaded innocent to a citation of storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles.
Arraignments today
Six other residents are to be arraigned in municipal court today on property maintenance citations.
Margerite C. Binkley of West Faith Street and Kimberly A. Lucente of West Lewis Street were both cited for storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles.
Tommy D. Strong of State Street faces citations for failing to maintain exterior property areas, storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles and depositing rubbish.
Judith L. Luzik of Katherine Street has citations for failing to maintain the exterior of her house and exterior property areas and storing unlicensed/inoperable vehicles.
Frances J. Gerish of Runge Boulevard faces citations for failing to maintain her home's roof, gutters and downspouts.
Ronald Tanner of Sexton Street has citations for failing to maintain the exterior of his house and accessory buildings and failing to cut high grass.
Issuing citations to residents who fail to maintain their properties is an ongoing, daily activity, Sveda said.
Routine patrols
Most of the violators are cited after Sveda, who routinely patrols city neighborhoods, spots a problem. Neighbors and police also alert him to residences with violations, he said.
Those with minor problems, such as an unlicensed vehicle, are usually notified that they have five to seven days to correct the problem, Sveda said.
Residents with more complicated violations are usually given 30 days to demonstrate that the problem is being corrected. Citations are issued if problems are not corrected in a reasonable time, residents cannot be reached by phone, or people are habitual offenders, Sveda said. "A better percentage of offenders are repeats," he added.
kubik@vindy.com