The city of Aberdeen agreed to a fee resolution aimed toward helping improve how the downtown vacant buildings look and it’s part of the recently approved Vacant Building Program the city approved earlier this summer.

The resolution is to add structured fees for property owners with vacant structures. The fee structure for “Vacant Commercial Buildings,” with licenses running from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, will be based on the following:

• Each vacant building, a year or less — $100

• Each vacant building for at least one but less than two years — $150

• Each vacant building for at least two years but less than three years — $200

• Each vacant building for at least three years and for each year thereafter until the building is occupied — $250

• Monthly verification inspections to ensure the building is being maintained — $100

The fees are expected to roll out in October, according to city officials.

Last week’s discussion revolving around the resolution was an active one. It began with a clarification from Aberdeen City Council President Kati Kachman, who pointed out a couple revisions from the final packet.

“The first one is on the first page with the resolution with the intention of council and the city previously outlined that any of these fees would be deposited into the Good Neighbors Revolving Loan Fund for use back in the community as appropriate,” Kachman said. “And then on the proposed fees that are outlined, all that we are doing is just clarifying that the fees are annually, so it’s $100 annual fee for each building that has been vacant. And then on rule No. 5, it’s a $100 monthly charge for that inspection to verify the building is being maintained in a secure and clean manner.”

Kachman also pointed out there is flexibility to modify the fee amounts.

“They are looking to roll out in October, so there’s plenty of time if council wants to provide any feedback on those fee amounts for it to be brought back to the city for final revisions before we vote on this resolution as well,” Kachman said.

Several councilors other than Kachman had questions that needed answers. Stan Sidor asked about the Good Neighbors Revolving Loan Fund, which is where the fees will go.

“Who is eligible and what are those funds eligible for?” Sidor said. “The reason I ask the question is it was my understanding that the monies that would be collected would go toward a fund that would be used, that would be available specifically for the downtown business owners to use to help enhance and upgrade their buildings to make them look better. Is the revolving loan fund broader than that?”

Lisa Scott, the city’s community development director, said the fund “encompasses all of the properties that are on the state routes.”

While Scott didn’t have all the details in front of her, she said the area includes the whole downtown core plus everything on the state routes and how it’s for businesses.

Dee Anne Shaw, Aberdeen city councilor, also wanted clarification on the yearly registration cost — $100 — and the monthly cost of $100 and if those would combine for a cost of $1,300. Kachman confirmed that was correct.

Sidor questioned the effectiveness of the fee amount based on how much it could cost a building owner to repair a building, as did David Gakin, who also serves on Aberdeen City Council.

“I understand the intent of this and I hope it works or at least works to some degree,” Sidor said. “But I guess I would say if I were a property owner and it was gonna cost me $5,000 or $10,000, or $10,000 to renovate the exterior of my buildings to make it look better, I’d just go ahead and pay the fines, pay the fees.”

Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave pointed out the vacant building program and the fees for it are not just fees, they’re to help the area.

“The detail of what you need to do would make the buildings look usable and presentable rather than ugly, run-down, boarded-up windows and broken windows, etc.,” Schave said. “So there’s more effect to it than just standing back and paying the fines.”

Scott explained the reasoning behind the program.

“The whole purpose behind this was to make sure that people are replacing (broken) windows with (unbroken) windows and to make sure that bricks are sealed, that the building envelope is protected so that we don’t lose any more consumer assets,” Scott said. “That’s the purpose behind this and so it’s to encourage building owners to not just buy property here and sit on it and let it deteriorate forever. And then it’s gonna be the city’s responsibility to tear it down because it’s no longer safe to occupy or it’s a threat to the public.”

Kacey Ann Morrison, Aberdeen city councilor, seemed to question the program’s effectiveness, but was for it because it seems to be a positive development.

“I just think it’s important to point out that this might work, it might not,” Morrison said. “It’s a first step to doing something and we can revisit this later and expand upon it. I’m sure it’s just one tool in the toolbox of something much broader that we’re gonna have come before us later. That’s all.”

The program was originally supposed to cover the downtown core. But through a couple city councilor motions made in June to extend it west to Alder Street — a previous motion by Morrison — and then another extension to Park Street — a motion David Lawrence made — its reach has widened.

A couple examples of buildings the program targets are the Thunderbird Motel — 410 W. Wishkah St. — and another one on the southwest corner of S. Park and W. Market streets. Lawrence explained the motion to extend out to Park Street back in June.

“There’s no name on it, it’s just boarded up,” Lawrence said. “There are sheets … every time I drive by it, it looks horrible. And the tourists who go through town, who then go out of town and see that … it’s one of the most horrible looking buildings in town as far as I’m concerned.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.