Fall Home Improvement 2013
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Safety officials provided City Council with an explanation Oct. 7 of why they feel two properties in the Star City should be demolished. Fire Chief Darrell White and Code Enforcement Officer George Howe explained why they had condemned the sites and why further steps should be taken to ensure public safety. Councilors were first presented information about a home located at 30 Lenfest St.
“This home came to our attention last March. Law enforcement had serious concerns about the building while there on another complaint. Ceilings are down, floors are gone, walls are stripped out. There are a lot of unsafe living conditions. We’ve put a ‘condemned’ sign on the building. George has tried hard to find the tenant another place to live; he’s currently incarcerated in Houlton,” said White.
In addition, White said the ceiling leaks and when it rains, it rains throughout the structure.
“The floor has soft spots. It has serious problems and mold’s an issue. The power’s still connected,” said White, noting this creates a safety concern for firefighters in the event of a fire, as well as a safety issue for people visiting the site for whatever reason.
City Manager Jim Bennett said given the owner’s (identified in paperwork as Jeff Higgins) present circumstances, he recommended extending the period from 30 to 60 days to comply with the city’s request regarding the property’s repair or removal.
Howe told councilors the owner currently is dealing with one issue and has two more pending with the city of Caribou.
“Whether he’ll be out in a short period of time, nobody knows,” said Howe.
Councilors briefly discussed the matter, voting the property to be a nuisance and dangerous to life and property. They also made and recorded an order stating that the owner shall, within 45 days of service of this order, abate all conditions creating a nuisance or dangerous condition to the satisfaction of the CEO. In addition, councilors agree that should the owner fail to comply within the specific time, the owner shall be assessed a civil penalty of $100 per day, with City Council further directing Bennett to cause the structure to be demolished or removed. The cost of such demolition and removal shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure sets and shall constitute a lien on such real estate.
The second property, located at 6 Caron St. and owned by Daniel Butts, involved similar damage to that of the Lenfest Street home.
White told councilors he’d been notified by the owner the building would be down within 45 days.
“My recommendation is to move forward with condemning the property. He’s (Butts) totally in agreement that the building is unsafe and unlivable,” said White.
Howe said the property hadn’t been lived in for eight years.
“The doors are tore up, windows punched out, there are leaks in the attic. There’s concern about mold. There’s structural damage. The ceiling’s missing, walls are bowed,” noted White.
“The entire living room floor is gone. That’s why we couldn’t make it upstairs. It’s falling apart, the chimney’s collapsing,” added Howe.
Based on evidence presented and the testimony of the CEO concerning the conditions of the premises owned by Butts and located at 6 Caron St., councilors adjudged the property to be a nuisance and dangerous to life or property. Councilors also made and recorded an order stating that the owner shall, within 30 days of service of this order, abate all conditions creating a nuisance or dangerous condition to the satisfaction of the CEO. In addition, councilors agree that should the owner fail to comply within the specific time, the owner shall be assessed a civil penalty of $100 per day, with City Council further directing Bennett to cause the structure to be demolished or removed. The cost of such demolition and removal shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure sets and shall constitute a lien on such real estate.
