Mentone Looks Again at Vacant Property
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Twelve years later, they’ve decided to restart the whole process to get him to either repair it or to bring it down.
“We need to do something there,” Council President Tim Croy said during the town council meeting Monday night.
Town attorney Larry Beeson said he’s tried to reach Surface, but has not been able to and has not heard from him.
Ed VanOsdol, of VanOsdol Inspection, inspected the building from the outside but was not able to get inside to see what condition the building is in. Croy would like Surface to give VanOsdol the opportunity to walk through it.
“I know it’s trash and it needs to come down,” Jill Gross, councilwoman, stated.
Croy said VanOsdol did note water was getting inside the building and the walls are crumbling.
“What’s the next step? What can we do?” Gross asked.
Beeson suggested they start over. He will send Surface a copy of the inspection report and the town’s requirements.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen with everything falling down,” Beeson stated.
“I know the cat population has really grown in that building. You can see gobs of them in there,” Croy noted. “The upstairs windows are busted out and the curtains are flying three feet out.”
Looking over his notes, Beeson said the council first started talking about the property in March 2001. In 2009, the town sent him a letter to do something about it.
Croy interjected, “At one time, he verbally told us he was going to fix it up, but that never happened.”
At another point, Beeson said, Surface sent a letter saying he would sell it to the town for $35,000.
“If we start, we’re going to have to follow through,” Gross commented.
“We’ve given him ample time. I agree with Larry we need to start again and move right through,” said Croy.
He said the biggest thing was finding out whether the building was repairable or not. If not, the town needs to force him to take it down or the town can take it down and Surface can reimburse the town. If it is repairable, Croy said, Surface needs to be given a timeline of when the work has to be completed, and sooner than three to four years.
Croy motioned to proceed with doing whatever they could to address the problem, which was approved.
“Does he still pay property taxes?” Gross asked.
Croy and Beeson said he did.[[In-content Ad]]
Twelve years later, they’ve decided to restart the whole process to get him to either repair it or to bring it down.
“We need to do something there,” Council President Tim Croy said during the town council meeting Monday night.
Town attorney Larry Beeson said he’s tried to reach Surface, but has not been able to and has not heard from him.
Ed VanOsdol, of VanOsdol Inspection, inspected the building from the outside but was not able to get inside to see what condition the building is in. Croy would like Surface to give VanOsdol the opportunity to walk through it.
“I know it’s trash and it needs to come down,” Jill Gross, councilwoman, stated.
Croy said VanOsdol did note water was getting inside the building and the walls are crumbling.
“What’s the next step? What can we do?” Gross asked.
Beeson suggested they start over. He will send Surface a copy of the inspection report and the town’s requirements.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen with everything falling down,” Beeson stated.
“I know the cat population has really grown in that building. You can see gobs of them in there,” Croy noted. “The upstairs windows are busted out and the curtains are flying three feet out.”
Looking over his notes, Beeson said the council first started talking about the property in March 2001. In 2009, the town sent him a letter to do something about it.
Croy interjected, “At one time, he verbally told us he was going to fix it up, but that never happened.”
At another point, Beeson said, Surface sent a letter saying he would sell it to the town for $35,000.
“If we start, we’re going to have to follow through,” Gross commented.
“We’ve given him ample time. I agree with Larry we need to start again and move right through,” said Croy.
He said the biggest thing was finding out whether the building was repairable or not. If not, the town needs to force him to take it down or the town can take it down and Surface can reimburse the town. If it is repairable, Croy said, Surface needs to be given a timeline of when the work has to be completed, and sooner than three to four years.
Croy motioned to proceed with doing whatever they could to address the problem, which was approved.
“Does he still pay property taxes?” Gross asked.
Croy and Beeson said he did.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092