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Monthly High Risk Specialist Report J. Schwegel October '05
Monday, 21 November 2005
From:  J Schwegel, High Risk Team Lead
To: Robert Klein, CEO
Subject: Monthly High Risk Specialist Report October '05

Robert,
 
Following is a summary of some of the High Risk Department's primary activities and focus areas in October 2005.


We continue to monitor numerous city web sites that post the addresses of properties listed on various watch lists. 


We are presently monitoring the sites of the following cities:

Atlanta                              Dearborn                            Montgomery County (MD)
Baltimore                          Detroit                                Oakland
Baton Rouge                    Ft. Wayne                           Phoenix/Tempe
Buffalo                              Ft. Worth                            Pittsburgh
Chicago                            Houston                              Riverside (CA)
Cincinnati                         Jacksonville                        Sacramento
Cleveland                         Kansas City (MO)               San Bernardino (CA)
Columbus                         Las Vegas                          St. Louis
Dallas                               Los Angeles                        St. Paul
Dayton                              Minneapolis                        Tampa Bay

 
The web sites are checked daily, weekly or monthly, depending on their updating schedule. The properties are cross-referenced with those in the Safeguard system and clients are immediately notified of any matches. Safeguard then contacts the city for information to correct the property.
 
Through this review, Safeguard has found 307 client properties and either resolved or stimulated resolution to the issue. Safeguard maintains a follow-up spreadsheet on the properties until a resolution is achieved.

Following are the last months results:
 
City of Chicago:
Chicago's Vacant Properties List remains the most current, with updates once or twice monthly. The Chicago Vacant Properties List dated 10/5/05 had a total of eight properties listed, with one found to be active in the Safeguard system. We were able to inform the client of the requirements to remove the property from the list. 

Atlanta, GA:
We follow up with the City of Atlanta's Blight Removal web site on a bi-weekly basis, and to date, no Safeguard-serviced properties have been matched on the list.

Baltimore, MD:
In Baltimore, four properties serviced by Safeguard were found and clients were advised that the properties need to be secure, free of exterior debris and have the grass cut. 

Cleveland, OH:
The City of Cleveland does not currently have a list posted on their web site, however, the city sends Safeguard quarterly spreadsheets of problem properties within the city's zip codes. Last quarter, six Safeguard properties matched, and all but one were inactive properties. Safeguard contacted the client and had bids approved to cut the grass and remove debris.

Dayton, OH:
The City of Dayton updates their Active Structural Nuisance List bi-monthly, and of 87 matching properties, 19 were active in Safeguard’s system. The clients were informed and are having the work completed.

Ft Worth, TX:
Fifteen Safeguard matches were found for high grass and weeds in August. Of them, only two active properties in bankruptcy were listed and the clients were notified.

Houston, TX:
No matches were found in July for Safeguard-serviced properties on the Houston Demo List. An update is anticipated in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. Safeguard will continue to follow-up and keep all clients advised.

Kansas City, MO:
The Kansas City web site updates the city’s demo list monthly and Safeguard has yet to find any property matches.

Louisville, KY:
Safeguard has found one match for a property conveyed in August 2003, and the list has not been updated since June.

Montgomery County, MD:
The Montgomery County (MD) Condemned Properties List is reviewed on a monthly basis, and on the most recent update Safeguard matched on four properties, with one active. The client was notified and advised that the property was sold to a third party.

Oakland, CA:
The Oakland Blighted Properties List is reviewed on a quarterly basis and Safeguard has found no matches with our properties.

Phoenix, AZ:
The Phoenix Dirty Dozen lists properties on the web that need to be repaired/placed into compliance. 
No matches have been found with Safeguard properties.

Pittsburgh, PA:
The Pittsburgh City Demo List is reviewed monthly and no matches have been found.

Sacramento, CA:
A list from Sacramento is received quarterly, and the most recent list had 10 matches to Safeguard-serviced properties. Three of the 10 properties were active in the Safeguard database, two of the properties were sold to third parties per the respective client and one remains in bankruptcy.

St Paul, MN:
The St. Paul Property List had 78 matches to Safeguard, 19 of which are active properties. Safeguard advised all of the clients and received approval to obtain bids and complete work.