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Vacant homes main focus for council

LISBON — The problem of long-vacant homes and the people who live next door to them was the focus at this week’s Village Council meeting.

East Chestnut Street residents Scott Oliver and Dan and Krista Hutton addressed council about the deteriorated condition of the vacant home at 518 E. Chestnut St., which they said is in such disrepair that it is not only an eyesore but poses a health and safety threat to the neighborhood and the children walking to and from McKinley Elementary School.

Mr. Hutton said there was trash left on the property and food in the house that has attracted vermin and until recently it had broken windows and was unsecure, with youths going in and out. Ms. Hutton said they have mowed the lawn to keep it from getting out of control.

Mayor Joseph Morenz, who boarded up the house to prevent it from being entered, conceded the abandoned home is in deplorable shape. “There is no doubt the home needs to come down,” he said.

Morenz said the problem is the property was purchased by Tax Ease at a delinquent property tax sale held by the county treasurer’s office. Tax Ease pays off the taxes and collects the debt by going after the property owner, who has one year to pay or have their property sold at foreclosure. He does not know where the property is in the process.

Denise Mollenkopf, 123 S. Beaver St., also attended the meeting to complain about the long-vacant home immediately to her south. She said a rear portion of the house has collapsed, with some of it spilling onto her property. The weekend’s heavy rains created a large hole where the collapse occurred, then the sinkhole has extended into their driveway. An inspector arrived from the fire department and cordoned off the house using red barricade tape.

Mollenkopf asked that something be done “before the foundation is in my house.”

The county land bank is inviting cities, villages and townships to submit abandoned and dilapidated homes it wants demolished, and Morenz said they could ask the South Beaver Street house be placed on the list. The problem is the entire process could take 12 months before the land bank would be in position to raze the house.

“What can I do in the meantime? I don’t want it to keep falling in and taking more of my driveway with it,” Mollenkopf said.

Councilman Peter Wilson said they have a nuisance property ordinance dating back more than 20 years and suggested they take action using that law. Wilson has been a frequent and vocal critic of how long it takes for the village to act in enforcing its laws, and he said this is a widespread problem around town that is only getting worse.

“They are not being maintained and have not been maintained for years,” he said of these homes, and it is pervasive throughout the village.

Mr. Hutton pointed out there is a village law allowing them to take the property owners to court and then impose a fine of $100 per day the property remains in violation. Village Solicitor Megan Bickerton said it is not that simple, but the first step is to have it condemned.

As for the fines, the property owner could refuse to pay, with the fines added to their taxes. Bickerton said either way there is a legal process that has to be followed and it would take time to work through the process before the village gets to where it is allowed to demolish a home.

Morenz pointed out a complaint against the East Chestnut Street party has been filed with the county health department, and as for the home on South Beaver Street, “I really don’t know what to tell you” other than they can try to get the land bank to acquire the home.

Wilson said this again demonstrates the need for the village to take action immediately when enforcing its building and housing maintenance laws and to also strengthen the ones they have.

Speaking after the meeting, Morenz encouraged citizens to call village hall and his office first with these complaints so the village can begin looking into the problem. He said this will allow him to possibly come up with some answers when they show up at council.

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