Pubdate: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 Source: Cuyahoga Falls News-Press (OH) Copyright: 2008 Record Publishing Co, LLC Contact: http://www.fallsnewspress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4791 Author: Steve Wiandt Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) NEW LAW WOULD GOVERN METH LAB CLEANUP, NOTIFICATION Cuyahoga Falls -- A new set of rules would govern clean-up of meth lab sites in the city, and require owners to tell the next owner or occupant about the property's history. The purpose of the proposed legislation, which City Council's public affairs committee will discuss June 16, is to reduce public exposure to health risks where law enforcement officers have determined that hazardous chemicals from a suspected clandestine drug lab site or associated dumpsite may exist. Police Chief John Conley said last year he and Mayor Don L. Robart formed a team made up of representatives of the police, law department, narcotics unit and community development, dedicated to cleaning up former "meth houses" in the city. "[Robart's] instructions were not to hurry up and create legislation," Conley said. "The plan was to prepare a strong piece of legislation that would address this problem." He said often a neighborhood's quality of life is not restored after a drug dealer is arrested and the meth house is boarded up. According to a spokesperson for the narcotics unit, one meth house was searched with a warrant this year. The ordinance defines a clandestine drug lab site as any land, dwelling or structure where controlled substances are illegally manufactured, as determined by law enforcement officials. The new ordinance would require law enforcement authorities to notify a city building official once they declare a property a public health nuisance due to its designation as a clandestine drug lab site or chemical dumpsite. The building official must then notify the owner of the property, occupants of the property, neighbors who are at risk, the police department, and other federal, state and local authorities. Also spelled out in the proposed ordinance are the property owner's responsibilities, which include vacating all occupants of the property, hiring environmental testing and cleaning firms, and paying all costs involved including the ones expended by the police department in identifying a clandestine drug lab site. The proposed ordinance requires disclosure to buyers and occupants of a property that it once was declared a public health nuisance or was the site of a clandestine drug lab. Stow City Council recently passed a similar law requiring disclosure to potential buyers of former drug lab sites. Council committees will begin their meetings at 6:15 p.m. at the Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath