State fines Cadiz man $10,000 for code violations at downtown Uhrichsville building

UHRICHSVILLE ― The Ohio Board of Building Appeals has imposed a $10,000 fine on the owner of 109 E. Third St., Uhrichsville, for building and fire code violations. Derek D. Spring of Cadiz faces the possibility of civil penalties of $5,000 per month beginning Oct. 1 if the violations are not addressed.

Law Director JJ Ong told City Council members at their Thursday meeting about Tuesday's decision from the state board, which was made after a hearing held Tuesday in Ashland.

Spring had appealed citations from the Uhrichsville Fire Department for violations based on an April 5 inspection of the commercial building.

"That citation was issued to Mr. Spring after about five years of going back and forth with him over that," Ong said.

The citation noted these violations:

• Doing work on the inside and outside of the building without a permit and without submitting plans for approval. Open wood was left exposed after a new roof was installed. The building had no certificate of occupancy.
• Working on the inside of the building without safeguarding from the possibility that fire could spread to adjacent properties. Holes were found in the fire walls to adjoining properties from the removal of partitions rated for fire resistance.
• Spring did electrical work that poses a hazard. It was not done by a licensed professional. No plans were submitted. Wires were found not to be secured properly. The main electrical panel was missing a cover, leaving live wires exposed. Outlet boxes had exposed wires.
• The stairway leading to the second floor is not reliable in an emergency due to the lack of fire blocking or fire-resistant material.
• No exit signs were located in the stairwell for the occupant of the second floor.
• No secondary exit exists for the occupant of the second story.
• Portable fire extinguishers were not available during construction or for the second-floor occupant.
• The building does not have a working smoke detector.

The Board of Building Appeals found that Spring had failed to correct seven of the eight violations. The citation regarding fire extinguishers was addressed.

Ong said the penalties "should serve as notice to other property owners that there are some pretty severe consequences on commercial buildings."

Councilman Matthew Fox commended the law director and the fire department.

"Hopefully, this is the start to cleaning up some of the properties in town," Fox said.

Spring said Friday that the building has been sold. Online records of the Tuscarawas County Auditor's Office list him as the owner.

In other business Thursday, council:

• Authorized the administration to apply to the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for an interest-free, 30-year loan for $65,900 to pay the city's share of a $659,100 culvert replacement on S. Wardell Street, Service Director Belle Everett said the culvert is at risk of failure. Should that happen, she said, 101 employees would be unable to reach three businesses. The OPWC will pay for 90% of the project, Everett said. Fox voted against the loan application.
• Agreed to spend $18,993 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to have Sewer Pro re-line cast iron drain pipes in the municipal building. Everett said a contractor was called to open drains on Memorial Day after sewage backed up into the fire department shower. Fox voted against the measure.
• Approved spending $2,500 to foreclose on 139 W. Third St., which is delinquent in $15,607.79 in property taxes.
• Heard a report from Rita McPeak about plans to hold a community clean-up with Dennison. Local school students will help.
• Asked the administration to comply with a citizen's request to resume putting council meetings live on Facebook.

Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com. On Twitter: @nmolnarTR

Times-Reporter photojournalist Andrew Dolph contributed to this report.