Bowman Officials Crack Down on Neglected Properties

By David Stephens, WSGC Radio, Elberton

The City of Bowman is cracking down on owners of dilapidated properties within the city limits.

During the Bowman City Council’s regular meeting earlier this week,  council members approved a motion to begin notifying owners about the condition of their properties.

Bowman Mayor Pete Gibbons says the run down properties and structures pose a potential safety risk to city residents.

“All the homes have been severely neglected for a really long time, most are abandoned and fallen in”, explained Gibbons. “As a safety hazard to our community, as well as bug issues, we have decided to address them and send them a letter.”

In that letter, which will be sent via certified mail, it states that the property owner has thirty days to fix or clean the property before legal action will be taken.

The proposed legal action would consist of a lien being placed on the property to compensate the city of Bowman should they have to clean or fix the property.

The motion to approve the sending out of letters passed unanimously.