Two of Flint's councilmen who both represent parts of the city's east side are convinced something is wrong with a system that can let dangerous burnt out sites go unattended for months.
They invited the city's neighborhood services director on a tour of what they considered the most severe examples of the problem, hoping that the visuals would turn into action.
"It's worse than a war zone over there," said Fourth Ward Councilman Josh Freeman.
"It really is a hazard, because it's nothing but chimneys over there and we don't want people to get hurt," said Third Ward Councilman Bryant W. Nolden.
Their concerns have been raised even higher because while they took the administration's neighborhood services director on a tour of a string of burnt out homes on Jane Avenue, they all watched as children were playing in once burned-out basement.
"By state law we believe it's 120 days we can't do anything because of the fire withholding insurance," said Flint Neighborhood Services Director Patrick Gerase.
"What do we need to do where we can go in and take care of that issue," Freeman said.
Hours after the tour, frustration with the four-month delay boiled over into a council committee meeting with council members looking for some immediate change.
"I think our position if it is a health and hazard safety risk we need to go in quicker than the 21 days," Freeman said.
And the administration's response: Agreed.
"With the kids playing around, it's definitely not safe," Gerase said.
Effectively immediately, they'll be looking for ways to speed up that 120-day rule.
A city attorney representative said they hoped to have news for them by the next committee meeting in two weeks.
