Hotel Purchase Spurs Discussion Of Codes, EMD

The recent purchase of the long-abandoned and decrepit Bourbon Hotel spurred discussion among city council members on March 21 about codes and the vacant emergency management director position.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Sonya Sewald told the council the 19th century hotel had been purchased by an unnamed buyer, which eventually led to the realization of an existing code that would force it to be torn down.

Sewald pointed out the city has a code that if the cost of the fix is more than 50 percent of the building’s value, it must be torn down.

“I can’t see us pushing to tear it down,” Sewald said, adding that the city needed to take a look at that code. “My response would be that we need to advocate to help.”

She said the buyer is seeking money to restore the building and it’s going to be costly. The tuck pointing alone will cost around $90,000.

Sewald said she contacted Bourbon Fire Marshal Tim Ware and had a productive conversation. Under existing law, repairing the hotel would mean passing fire code, which has been an ongoing topic of discussion for two years.

That also led to a discussion of the city’s vacant emergency management director.

For many years, that role was held by former Fire Chief Daniel Whatley, who possessed all the necessary qualifications.

Mayor Dave Lafferty said the city won’t do inspections on commercial buildings and that the fire department is not allowed to use city police officers to perform inspections.

City Attorney Robert Davis said the city has an ordinance about fire inspections in its code book, but that it needs to be removed.

“The city is not in the fire business,” Davis said.

Despite that, Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood pointed out that the city needs to find an emergency management director.

If the city were to find itself in an emergency situation that required Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), they would not qualify for funding without having a director in place.

Sewald asked who the ideal candidate would be.

“A firefighter,” Heywood said.

Silence fell over the board for a few seconds.

“I think we should wait until after the fire board election,” Sewald said, referring to the April 4 ballot pitting Miranda Falloon against Dan Simmerly.

The council moved on from there.