"Slum Lord" signs still visible in Frankfort

FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI) - "Those signs are still around and we're working with those people to try and get resolutions to what they want," Frankfort building inspector Sam Payne said about the 12 by 12 signs with the crossed out phrase slum lord.

The signs have been in yards across the city for nearly five months and Payne said building inspectors are doing what they can to eliminate the need for them.

"They've asked for us to get our ordinances updated and start enforcing more of the ordinances and we're doing that," Payne said.

The signs' creator John Reid said he started making the signs to bring awareness to rental properties he believes are unfit for living. A landlord himself, Reid said he expanded the campaign to include a website.

The signs and website have caught the attention of community members and Reid said he's seen some improvements over the last couple of months.

"Some of the areas, the blatant areas, of Frankfort have gotten cleaned up little to no extent. A lot of these properties haven't changed at all," Reid said.

In October Reid told News 18 he wanted the city to adopt new ordinances that required all rental properties to be inspected once a year. He said property owners should be held responsible for what their property looks like on the outside as well.

"People throw their stuff in the back yard and the front yard," Reid said. "Their furniture, their mattresses and as long as they don't see it they think it's gone and that's and that's not the way to address it."

Currently, Payne said building inspectors can't enter rental properties unless the tenant reports a problem, but Payne said he's working to change that and adopt a rental inspection program. Until then he said he doesn't expect to see the signs go away anytime soon.

"My assumption is they won't go away until we start making a difference, but we're working on it so hopefully we can get rid of those slum lord signs," Payne said.

Reid said he'll be putting a large image of the signs on a billboard in downtown Frankfort next month.