[ back ]
House demolition delayed over ownership responsibility
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - November 03, 2010)
House demolition delayed over ownership responsibility
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Geauga County Commissioners are rethinking a proposal to use tax money for the demolition of private homes.
Commissioner Mary Samide asked the board last week to hold up approval for the demolition of a house at 10721 Mulberry Road owned by Chardon School Board member Larry Reiter. The contract for demolition is $5,200.
She asked commissioners to decide whether to approve the demolition contract for the house or cancel the contract and allow the costs to be borne by the homeowners.
Commissioner Tracy Jemison was absent from the meeting, so Mrs. Samide asked that a vote on the issue be delayed until the full, three-member board could decide.
Mr. Reiter's house is one of four proposed for use of a community-development-block grant program through the Geauga County Community and Economic Development Department. The agency has approximately $50,000 to use toward demolitions.
Mrs. Samide said she would like to discuss the issue with Munson Township Trustees. Rather than use the grant money, she said, the township may be able to front the money for the demolition and recoup it through tax liens later. "It shouldn't be a freebie," she said.
She said she believes the homeowners should be the ones responsible for those costs, because they can afford it.
When the home is sold, the township would be able to recoup the money, she said.
"We feel it is a much fairer way to handle the removal," she said.
Munson Township had applied for the funding in August, citing four houses that are beyond repair.
Township Zoning Inspector Timothy Kearns said using the grant money is a much faster process than having the township pay and then, hopefully, get reimbursed by the homeowners.
Because the houses often turn into hangouts for youth, officials said, they fear that someone could get hurt trespassing. That, in turn, could lead to lawsuits against officials, because they allowed a known, dangerous situation to continue, they said.
Mrs. Samide said she believes the homeowners should be responsible, because those being considered for removal by the board are owned by people who have the means to handle the demolition costs.
[ back ]
