|
 Lebegue offered a slide show presentation of photos taken around
the exterior of the home and discussed the circumstances that call
for demolition.
He began saying that the home had been occupied by a senior who
passed away. It was Lebegue's understanding that there was a
daughter involved, but he has not been able to make contact with
her. He explained that after the passing, the home reverted to the
mortgage holder which is Chase Bank.
Lebegue said his office has tried to make contact with Chase but has
not received any kind of response or communication from the
financial institution.
Lebegue said this is not uncommon in cases such as these, and he is
left to assume that the mortgage company has abandoned the property
because it has no value.
From the outside, looking only at the structure, Lebegue said the
house doesn’t look all that bad. But there is evidence from
neighbors that the home is infested with cockroaches that are now
traveling through the neighborhood. There is also a great deal of
trash inside and outside the home, and animal feces inside the home.
Lebegue said the home is emitting an odor that can be detected
outside.
 Currently, weeds are growing up all around the home. Lebegue showed
photos of the back yard and deck area, pointing out a kiddie pool of
stagnant water, bags of trash strewn about, trash and junk were
thrown under the deck, and old indoor furniture such as a sofa
sitting outside in the weather. He said these items are attractors
for pests and vermin.
Lebegue said that he had used all of his demolition budget for this
year, but he has money elsewhere in his budget that can be moved
into demolition to get this property demolished.
Bids had been provided from Harold Goodman at $4,200 and Moody
Excavation at $4,450. Lebegue said he would like to go with Goodman
for this project.
He concluded that because of the vermin and cockroaches, the
property is damaging the community, and the neighbors are very
anxious to see something done with it.
Michelle Bauer asked if the issue with the cockroaches would spread
when the house is destroyed, and did the city have a plan to help
prevent that.
Lebegue said that the city street department could do a thorough
spraying of insecticide for the cockroaches immediately before it
was demolished and, if needed, during demolition. He said that the
excavators the city uses are very efficient, and it was his guess
that the building would be destroyed and hauled away in less than a
day.
He noted that at another location with similar cockroach issues, the
city had addressed the bugs in this same fashion, and did not
receive a single complaint from neighbors about the bugs migrating.
 Rick Hoefle asked if the city could have any recourse with Chase on
the demolition and clean up of their property. Lebegue said that to
try and recover anything would probably cost more than the city
could get, but there was an action that could be taken. He said that
city attorney, Blinn Bates, would be able to file for the deed to
the property, and the city could then sell it to a prospective
builder, could divide it between existing homeowners on either side
of the house, or could provide the property to Habitat for Humanity
for a future building site.
Tracy Welch wondered if Chase could take recourse against the city
for destroying their property. He noted that it just seemed odd that
the lending institution would not have issues with the city
destroying the home.
Lebegue said that a part of the fast-track demolition process, if
the city approves it, will include a certified letter to Chase,
giving them a limited amount of time to answer, and also a notice
published in the newspaper. He said if Chase does not respond, then
the city is within its legal rights.
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1114 Fourth Street
Welch noted there was a vehicle sitting in the driveway of the house and
wondered about the status of that in relation to the city’s plan. Lebegue said
at the moment it was assumed that it is an abandoned vehicle. If the vehicle is
not removed, then the city can have it hauled away.
Jeff Hoinacki asked if, even though there was not money in the budget, was there
money in the city’s appropriation document for this third demolition project for
the year.
Treasurer Chuck Conzo said that he would need to do an amendment to the
appropriations document as well as the budget, but the money will be made
available by taking unspent budgeted dollars from other expense categories in
the Building and Safety Office budget and placing those dollars in the
demolition expense. He told Hoinacki it would not be a problem to get the money
needed for this project.
With no other questions, the council agreed to place the item on the voting
agenda for Monday, October 3rd.
[Nila Smith]
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