Condemnations occupy council at busy session

The Clinton City Council seated its newest member Tuesday night, then continued its campaign to clean up the city by condemning three derelict houses and giving the owner of a fourth 90 days to show progress toward restoring it to a livable condition.
Houses condemned are located at 217 Hayes Ave., 320 S. 14th St. and 516 S. 3rd St. Those owners will have 30 days to show work on bringing them up to code.
The one whose owner will be given 90 days is a very small house located at 605 S. 13th St., just south of Modelle Avenue.
Building Inspector Toby Anders had recommended that all four be condemned.
Immediately prior to the meeting, Ernie Dowdell was sworn in as the new councilman from Ward 2. He replaces 28-year veteran Don Rodolph, whom he defeated in this year’s election held Nov. 6.
Prior to the swearing-in, Dowdell resigned his position on the city’s Golf Advisory Board, an appointive post, and was replaced by Brett Johnson.
In a brief resume submitted previously, Johnson said he has two years of work experience at the Jupiter Hills Golf Club, an 18-hole course opened in 1981 at Jupiter, Fla. He’s also a board member of Clinton Baseball Inc.
Mayor David Berrong and Ward 4 Councilman Bobby Stewart were sworn in with Dowdell for their second consecutive two-year terms. Neither drew an opponent this year.
The house on Hayes that was condemned is owned by Bruce and Arica Metheny. Toby Anders said it has had no water service since sometime before 1992. He didn’t know how long before.
An abatement hearing was held June 5, 2017, he said, and Bruce Metheny wanted some time to work on the house. Another hearing was held more than a year later, and Anders said no one appeared.
“In its current condition it is unfit for human occupancy,” he added. He also called it a fire hazard to surrounding properties. “My recommendation is it be condemned,” said Anders.
Under existing regulations, he said that would mean the city could enter on the 31st day.
“I toured it this afternoon,” said Councilman Jason Hulin. “It’s in terrible condition.”
City Manager Mark Skiles said the city always tries to give property owners an opportunity to rectify problems if they wish, as had happened in this instance.
Mayor Berrong wanted to know if condemnation would mean the city could take it down on the 31st day. “Yes,” replied Anders.
Owners of the house at 320 S. 14th were listed as Vaughn Fauchier and/or Sheila Sullivan. Anders said it has had no water service since Feb. 16 and no owner appeared at the last abatement hearing in July.
He said there are swags in the roof and pieces of it are flying off, causing neighbors to complain.
Anders said he had stapled a condemnation notice on or near the front door but somebody had removed it. He called the structure “unfit for human occupancy and a safety hazard to neighboring property.”
Berrong thought he had seen people in it.
“It’s had no water since July 17,” replied Anders.
“I drove by it today and the yard looked mowed,” said Hulin.
Anders said the city has been mowing it.
Hulin wanted to know if the owners live in Clinton. Anders said he mailed the notice that it was being considered for condemnation to an address in Perry. He said he could find no water records for a Sheila Sullivan anywhere in town.
Hulin said a document he was looking at said she had appeared Aug. 9, 2018. Anders said that was a mistake, it should have said 2017.
“We held a hearing this year and nobody appeared,” he added. “My recommendation is condemn it. That gives the owner 30 business days (to do something about it).” And that’s what the council did.
Wendel or Marjorie Jones was listed as the property owner for 516 S. 3rd. Anders said it had not had water since November of 2009 and an abatement hearing was held July 17, 2018. He said Patsy Jones attended then and said she would like to move back into the house.
Anders showed various photos of that property, some depicting holes in the roof and shingles missing. He said they allow not only moisture and dirt to get inside it but also animals.
“Stuff out of the house they’re piling in the back yard,” he added. “I personally worked a fire there in 2009 (Anders is a volunteer fireman). The electric meter was pulled, and they were required to have an electrician look at it before the meter could be turned back on.” He said it hasn’t been reconnected.
Anders said there’s a small church building to the south of the house and somebody had an extension cord routed into it. He said he’d asked Patsy Jones, who was present Tuesday, to come up with some estimates.
Berrong was concerned about the ownership and making sure the legal niceties of notification had been met. “Are you the owner?” he asked.
“Wendel was my husband,” Patsy answered.
“Who’s Marjorie?” asked the mayor.
    “That was his ex-wife,” she replied.
Hulin wanted to know if Wendel is still alive. Told he’s not, he wanted to know about Marjorie. Patsy said she died shortly after Wendel did.
“That house is going to require a bunch of work (to bring it up to code),” said Hulin. “Of all these pictures of properties we’ve looked at tonight, it’s going to take the most work. I don’t know if it’s feasible to repair it.”
Hulin said he knew Wendel Jones and it was his intention to repair the house but it obviously didn’t get done.
“Patsy potentially has an (ownership) interest,” said City Attorney Ryan Meacham. “After Marjorie died, he married Patsy.”
But he added, “Our concern is if we tie it down and get a lien, how do we foreclose?”
Councilman Stewart said his father-in-law was the fire chief for years and wanted to tear that house down but wouldn’t because Marjorie Jones was his sister. Now, he estimated, it would take $100,000 to bring it up to code.
“So what are our options?” asked Hulin. “I think it’s a public hazard and needs to be condemned.” But he said 30 days wouldn’t be enough to figure out all the legalities.
“If we foreclose, we have to name Mr. or Mrs. Jones and all their successors and heirs,” said Meacham.
“As I understand it, if we place a lien on it, it goes up for sale,” said Skiles. “Do we get anything?”
Meacham said that would depend on what the lien amount is and whether the taxes have been paid.
Councilman Stewart eventually made a motion to condemn the house, and the vote was 5-0 to do so. Skiles said that would give somebody 30 days to do something.