Developer Seeks Relief From $102,000 In Selma Fines To Renovate Vacant House
SELMA, N.C. – More than $100,000 in Town of Selma fines could be waived on a long-vacant River Road property if a prospective buyer follows through with plans to renovate or demolish the deteriorating house.
Haley Compton-McMillan appeared before the Selma Town Council on Sept. 8 seeking relief from municipal liens attached to the property at 1315 River Road.
Compton-McMillan and her husband own LJM Buys Houses, a North Carolina real estate investment company that purchases and renovates older homes.
The company is under contract to purchase the River Road property and has been working to resolve ownership and title issues that developed following the death of the former owner. Compton-McMillan said the couple had located heirs and that the title issues were largely resolved.
The house has reportedly been vacant since 2018 and is now in need of significant repairs.
More Than $100,000 In Town Fines
Compton-McMillan told the council the property has accumulated approximately $102,000 in Town of Selma fines while sitting vacant.
Approximately $18,380 in delinquent property taxes are also owed on the property.
She said the accumulated fines make purchasing and rehabilitating the house financially impractical unless the town is willing to provide some relief.
Compton-McMillan said she and her husband had contacted several co-owners of the property, including some living outside North Carolina, and obtained agreements to move forward with the sale.
She said the municipal liens were the final “significant obstacle” to returning the property to productive use.
Rather than leave the deteriorating house vacant, the company proposes either rehabilitating the structure or redeveloping the property.
Council Does Not Immediately Erase Fines
The Town Council did not vote to simply waive the approximately $102,000 in fines.
Instead, council members agreed to allow town staff to negotiate an agreement with the company that could provide for the fines to be waived if specific conditions are met.
Under the concept discussed by council, LJM Buys Houses would be required to either renovate the existing house or demolish it within a specified period of time.
The deadline and other terms will be worked out between town staff and the company.
That arrangement would give the prospective buyer an incentive to take control of the property while also protecting the town if the promised improvements are not completed.
‘Make Sure Our Town Is Fantastic’
Mayor Byron McAllister said the town’s ultimate objective in imposing code enforcement penalties is to get problem properties corrected, not simply accumulate fines.
The goal, McAllister said, is not to collect fees, “but to make sure our town is fantastic.”
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If no one has noticed Selma has been absolutely out of control with their code violations. It is government overreach at its finest. If the mayor, town council, & town manager thought people hated them before just keep this nonsense up. Trying to run lower income families and those who have lived in the town for decades out just so they can gentrify the town is diabolical.
The residents of Selma need to attend town meetings, voice your frustration, and even protest if necessary! Let them know you will not take being run out of your homes by government narcissist! REMEMBER THEY WORK FOR YOU! YOUR TAX DOLLARS PAY THEIR SALARIES! THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS!!!
Agreed!
Selma 180° from Smithfield. Smithfield has no interest in enforcing any kind of code ordinances. Vacant homes and commercial properties sit in shambles and look like crap and the town takes no action.
Gotta call BS on this:
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The goal, McAllister said, is not to collect fees, “but to make sure our town is fantastic.”
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If that were true, they’d waive/cut/reduce all fees as soon as the violation is resolved. Not require residents to pay an “administration fee” to request abatement.
How the h*ll can you rake up 102000 in fines????
The corporate takeover of the American dream of home ownership couldn’t be more evident than in the town of Selma. People better take local voting more serious this time, because it might be last time anyone has a real chance of forcing out the corrupt political players. This is all by design and its like a cancer spreading across the entire southeast. They’re not making it better for you, they’re making it better to force you out and get people in who can afford the high taxes and turn all Johnston County towns into HOA style towns.
agree!
Does Smithfield see this ??? Selma Fines. Smithfield you have a problem with sitting vacant properties on every street BC you are not fining. You allow them to sit 50 years plus – no fines.
Move if you don’t like it! Vacant is different from run down!
Go away, Smithfield does not need your advice
Selma is out of control and this needs to STOP
We do not want a Cary town of stupidity in Johnston County
Selma needs a better mayor.
Ron Hester cannot become mayor soon enough. God bless Selma!
Want to make it fantastic? Start by paving these terrible roads rather than patches all of the place. These roads are in TERRIBLE condition!!
I think a majority of these small towns need a financial audit, it’s all about the money and no matter how many town hall meetings you go to to voice your concerns and frustrations, they gonna do what they want to regardless
It is my understanding that the state auditor has been notified. The S.B.I. should get involved but that usually requires a judge requesting it. I do not have a JD so I might be wrong. Regardless, Selma needs some smarter leaders.
This is a prime example of “Scratch Mine and Scratch Yours” No one knew of these bogus fines and fees but them 2 parties. On top of 3rd party lighting, Crazy Zoning and the list steady growing and ripping people off. Citizens please get up and attend town meetings etc. Sad.