Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Prattville City Attorney Andrew Odom asked for a point of privilege at the City Council meeting last week, to give an update of the status of the Robinson House.
The home is located on Seventh Street, and was declared dilapidated by the council. This meant the house could be demolished if not brought up to code. The city decided to time for the family to gather the funds necessary for renovations.
City Attorney Odom gave the following update to the Council at the last regular meeting July 1.
“I wanted to give you guys a timeline and status update of 106 Seventh Street, for the Robinson Property,” he said.
He explained that May 9th of 2024, the city’s building official inspected the structure, and then sent a letter to Code Enforcement with the findings the structure was dilapidated.
That same day, Code Enforcement sent the Robinson family that there was notice that the structure was dilapidated, giving them the opportunity to request a public hearing to dispute the findings.
On June 4th of last year, that hearing was held. On July 16th a resolution was before the council declaring the structure unsafe. The Council postponed voting on that resolution until August 20 of 2024.
“At the Council meeting on Aug. 20, 2024, the council voted to declare the structure dilapidated. On Aug. 22, two days later, the city received a letter from the Robinson’s attorney threatening litigation. The next day the city attorney and the Robinson’s attorney exchanged emails regarding that letter. On Aug. 29 the city attorney and Robinson’s attorney further emailed about the cost and repair estimate for the Robinson property.”
Odom said on Sept. 5, 2024, the city attorney emailed the Robinson’s attorney following up on the property assessment. “I received no response from the Robinson’s attorney that week,” he said.
On Sept. 18, 2024, the city attorney again emailed the Robinson’s attorney asking for a date and time to meet to discuss the repair proposal. A meeting was held Sept. 20.
“On Sept. 20 I met the Robinson’s attorney and discussed a proposal for the repair and also plans to get the repairs started and an agreement formalized,” Odom said. “On Oct. 2, 2024, I met with a building official, and I went over the Robinson’s contractor’s quote and a proposal for the repair.”
The next day, Odom said he lined up the Robinson’s attorney with a building official providing contact information and the need for the contractor to get interior repairs itemized and the work with the building official so the Robinsons knew if they do work, that it would be compliant.
On Nov. 4, 2024, Odom said he emailed the Robinson’s attorney asking for a call for an update on their status of getting with a building official. “I received no response for the next month,” Odom said.
On December 31, 2024, Odom said he sent a follow up email to the Robinson’s attorney asking for an update and if the contractor had put out a plan for the building official.
“The Robinson Attorney emailed me the same quote from Sept. 20, but no plan or scope of work was provided at that time,” he said.
On Jan. 3 of this year, Odom said the Robinson’s attorney emailed him, and also the contractor scope of work for the first time. He then emailed that to the building official.
On. Jan. 6, 2025, the building official emailed Odom and Robinson’s attorney stating that the scope of work was a good plan to start with, Odom said. The building official provided the Robinson’s attorney with further instructions that the Robinson’s contractor could communicate with him and get started on repairs.
“On Feb. 11, 2025, I emailed the Robinson’s attorney asking where he was on the draft agreement. I did not get a response that week. On Feb. 17th, the Robinson’s attorney emails the city attorney and asks myself to draft the agreement. On Feb. 18, the next day, I sent the Robinson’s attorney a draft settlement agreement that outlined the plan for repair. On Feb. 20, the Robinson’s attorney sent myself a draft with substantial changes to that agreement. On Feb. 27, I responded with a new draft and defined substantial completions of the repairs to be completed within six months and giving the Robinsons one year total from the date they signed the agreement to complete the repairs.”
Odom said he tried to speed up the process, so the issue could be on the March 8, 2025 agenda. He said on March 4, he sent a follow up email due to no response. On April 8, he sent a second follow up email to the attorney due to no response since Feb. 26, 2025.
On April 14 the Robinson’s attorney sent Odom an email with new demands that had not been discussed with the property, Odom said.
“On April 16, 2025, I responded asking why we are going backward with these new demands. I received no response over the next two weeks,” Odom said.
On May 1st, Odom said he sent the attorney an email with revised requirements with essentially four elements. Those were: The Robinsons develop a detailed plan; obtain a required permit; and make good faith progress within six months of the time the agreement is signed, with completion to be done within one year of signing the agreement. He did not receive a reply that week, he said.
On May 7, 2025, the Robinson’s attorney sent an email asking to clarify these requests, Odom said.
“The next day I responded with a revised draft of the agreement that clearly outlined what those requests meant,” Odom said. “On May 12, 2025, the Robinson’s attorney emailed he was meeting with the Robinsons on May 14th and would replay Thursday, May 15th. I did not get a response that day.”
Odom said on May 23, Odom sent a revised draft. On June 3, the Robinson’s attorney sent a prior draft executed by the Robinsons, but it had language that stated first and foremost, the council would rescind its action from 2024 in finding the structure dilapidated.
“On June 4, I responded…outlining my concern about the council reversing its decision before any work at all had been done. I did not get a response that week. On June 24 I sent the Robinson’s attorney a follow-up email to which I received no response. On June 27th I see the Robinson’s attorney in public and I asked him has he met with his clients and I needed an update. I also informed him that the matter would be on the July 1st agenda. And that brings us here tonight.”
Council President Lora Lee Boone thanked Odom for his detailed background information on the timeline. “It is obvious the city is making a very true faith effort to continue to work on this case.”
No action or vote was made on this issue at the last meeting. It is expected to be discussed at the next regular meeting on July 15. A family member did address the council in public comments during the meeting, saying she would be at the next regular meeting to give more information from the Robinson family’s side.
