VIDALIA — After approving its 2017-18 budget, the Town of Vidalia is ready to go after properties that have dilapidated to the point of potentially causing health hazards.

Mayor Buz Craft said approximately 30 properties fit the description of blighted, in which the properties are not being kept up and the structures are falling into disrepair. The town has allotted $10,000 for blighted properties and has an additional $35,000 from the state.

“I think it is going to be a big help for the town,” Craft said. “It will help with animal control issues and remove some hazards in town, as kids could potentially get in these buildings and hurt themselves. These are also places where people could hide out in.”

Also part of the budget is $20,000 for the hearing officer, Hu’Cheryl Walker of Vidalia.

The process of the town tearing down a building or removing hazards beyond grass cutting and putting the expense on the tax roll requires a hearing for the property owner.

Town Manager Bill Murray said he plans to send out notices to the owners or last known heirs for eight to 10 blighted properties by the end of the week. Murray said later this week he planned to meet with the town’s contracted inspector to determine if blighted property inspection, which the inspector is qualified to do, is part of the town’s contract or if it would require an additional fee.

Murray said he then plans to have the inspector officially declare the eight to 10 properties blighted. Once the properties are officially declared blighted, the town could send out letters.

Murray said the owners would be given a 10-day notice period before the hearing. If the owner does not show up to the hearing, Murray said the town could demolish and haul off materials that day.

If the owner does show up, Murray said the resolution would be up to Walker.

“They could, for example, make arrangements with the hearing officer who could allot a specific time frame for the owner to handle the situation,” Murray said.

Until the hearing is set, Murray said he could not identify the properties.

By the end of the week, Murray said he also plans to reach out to contractors about bidding on the potential blighted properties. Murray said he did not want to speculate on how much removal might cost for a property.

Murray said the town would attempt to demolish and haul off as many properties during July as possible, as any work done August or later would be added to next year’s tax rolls rather than 2017.

The town, however, does plan to continue removing blighted properties throughout the year. Murray said.

Murray said a blighted property does not have to contain a building, as it could be an empty lot where many small trees and vines have grown beyond simple grass cutting.

“A blighted property can just be a haven for rats and snakes, but that can be a big problem for neighbors,” Murray said.

Murray said the town is also moving forward with grass cutting around town. For grass cutting, the town only has to send a notice and publish a public notice. After a 10-day waiting period, the town can mow the property and put the cost on the property owner’s tax bill.

In the last round of grass cutting notices, Murray said all but two or three took actions and had their own yards mowed before the town had to do so. Craft said most of the blighted properties are in districts 1 and 2.