04/07/2015 (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ANALYSIS: The subject structures have been vacant for a considerable time. During that time, the buildings have continued to deteriorate and have been frequented by vandals and transients. Not only have the owners failed to maintain the structures in compliance with the Minimum Standard Codes, they have failed to bring the structures into compliance as required by posted notice. Since the owners have not filed an appeal to the condemnation order, the county may now proceed with demolition of the structures and with assessing a lien against the property for demolition and removal. Recent County demolition contracts have averaged $4,175 per residential site. The County Attorney's Office has reviewed the title reports on these four parcels and found some of the parcels to be encumbered by code enforcement liens, utility liens, or outstanding tax certificates. Three of the parcels have mortgages that have not been satisfied of record. One mortgage expired in 1989, and the statute of limitations has run out on the other 2, thus losing any priority they may have had. All of the properties are located in the Gifford Neighborhood Plan area known as east Gifford. Demolition of unsafe structures on those sites, as proposed, will help meet the neighborhood plan objective of demolishing 10 unsafe structures in east Gifford by 2016. Also, in accordance with the neighborhood plan, the demolition project will include weed removal/control on the subject lots. FUNDING Funding in the amount of $33,400 (8 x $4,175) for the demolition and removal of the unsafe structures on the eight residential sites is available in the MSTU Fund/Cash Forward -Oct 1st . After demolition bids are received and a demolition contract is awarded, a budget amendment will need to be processed to move those funds to the MSTU/Road & Bridge/Other Contractual Services- Account # 00421441-033490. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners declare the referenced structures unsafe and a nuisance and order the buildings demolished, with related debris removed from the property by a private vendor approved through standard bid procedures. Staff further recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Building Official to report the county's demolition and debris removal cost for said structures to the County Attorney for the preparation and recording of a lien to be placed on the real property of the owners of the demolished unsafe structures for the purpose of recovering the County's demolition costs. 2 132