Wellsville's Dilapidated Structures Program

Monday - February 8: A meeting was held Monday morning at the Wellsville Fire Dept. in regards to the next step to continue with the dilapidated structure program. Present at the meeting was WFD Chief Bill Smith, Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Cataldo and Council Property Committee Chairwoman Susan Haugh.

At last week's Council Meeting Chief Smith advised he is at the point where he needs Council's assistance to continue with the program. Currently there are six structures ready for demolition under the Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Columbiana County Commissioners are currently advertising for bids for contractors. The last advertisement was published in Monday's Morning Journal. "The project involves the Demolition of Scattered Site Residential Structures throughout Columbiana County". Terms of the bid requires contractors to bid on individual structures. The deadline for the bids is 10 A.M. February 17. They will be immediately opened and read aloud.

Smith advised there are actually nine structures ready. These structures have all been approved by the owners to be taken down. Six of the nine are included in the bids and all costs are being paid by the program. Smith said he was told by County officials if the bids come in under estimates there is a chance to add the other three to the list.

Besides these nine structures there are eight additional ones ready for the next step. Six weeks of advertisements were ran in the local newspapers late last year in an attempt to locate the owner of record. That was all for nought. Not one single owner came forward. The next step is to file in Common Pleas Court for permission to take the structures down and this is where Smith is asking for Council's assistance.

Filing costs is estimated to be around $125. Presently the Village Solicitor is checking to see if these eight can be lumped into one suit. However it is feared that each one will have to be filed individually. If the judge rules favorably there will likely have to be another series of advertisements ran and additional title searches done. If no more stimulus money is awarded the cost of continuing the demolition will be up to the Village. Smith advised there is no money in Fire Dept. budgets for this. In a sense Smith was asking for a commitment from Council before proceeding.

Both Council people present indicated this would not be a foreseen problem and various ideas were exchanged. The next step is for Council to agree to come up with the needed financing. Council next meets Tuesday evening, February 16.

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