|
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — City Councilors Monday night received an update on a program aimed at removing dilapidated structures across St. Marys.
Safety-Service Director Tom Hitchcock said contractors began demolishing an old motel located at 848 Indiana Ave. Monday afternoon. The structure, owned by Michael J. Myers of Norwalk, fell under the city’s program that began last year to remove dilapidated structures.
“It’s the 19th structure since last July to be demolished,” Hitchcock told The Evening Leader. “That doesn’t include the Cotton Mill or any other property the city owned.”
Hitchcock said natural gas to the structure had been turned off since 1994. According to the Auglaize County Auditor’s Web site, the structure had a value of $121,360.
“This one, we got a lot of complaints on,” Hitchcock said. “We got complaints of kids being out here and there was a lot of vandalism and people dumping trash.”
Hitchcock said the demolition had a price tag of approximately $15,000. The cost, he said, would be assessed to the property owner on their taxes.
“So far we haven’t been out of any money on these,” Hitchcock said. “There’s a chance we could if one is foreclosed on.”
Since the program started, Hitchcock said he has sent out 53 letters. Currently there are six that are outstanding with one slated for demolition in May.
“I haven’t had too much resistance with the letters,” Hitchcock said. “A lot of the time people say they wanted to fix them up or demolition them and we just gave them the motivation.”
In other business, councilors:
• Approved, on emergency, adopting an identity theft policy.
• Approved a motion to reschedule the May 25 council meeting for 7 p.m. May 26.
The next meeting of the St. Marys City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 11 at the city building located along East Spring Street. |
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 April 2009 )
|
