3 Hillsboro houses deemed unsafe
Staff writer
Hillsboro city council members Tuesday scheduled public hearings Sept. 6 for two of three properties deemed dangerous by code enforcement officer Doug Dick.
311 N. Lincoln St.
Dick reported the house had at least one window broken out, visible cracks in its foundation, exterior wall defects that permit weather and wildlife to enter, and a front porch not sound enough to walk on, making the house unfit for human occupancy.
He also reported that a sidewalk in front of the house was unsafe, the roof was deteriorated and neglected, the front porch ceiling was collapsing, the house and garage were unsecured, and the structure was abandoned, which may create an attractive nuisance to children.
A report from Security 1st Title said the last deed on the property was in the name Evelyn A. Throop and property taxes are delinquent back to 2018.
405 S. Birch St.
Dick reported the mobile home has at least two windows broken out, and metal skirting is missing in places or damaged in a way that allows weather and wildlife to enter, making it unfit for occupancy.
He also reported that both the front and rear porches had been moved away from the doors, the trailer is unsecured, and it was abandoned, which may create an attractive nuisance to children.
A report from Security 1st Title said county records show the property owner is Four Seasons Sporting Goods. Property taxes are current, yet no one appears to be living in the house.
310 N. Washington St.
Dick reported exterior walls of the house were damaged because of deterioration, neglect, and abandonment; the roof, ceiling, and floor of the porch were rotting and unsafe to walk on; and the house was abandoned and might create an attractive nuisance to children.
Security 1st Title reported the house was last deeded to Dennis Gora and is encumbered by a bankruptcy case filed in October.
Property taxes are delinquent back to 2018.
The council did not set a public hearing date for this house. City attorney Andrew Kovar recommended the city contact the bankruptcy court and see if the building could be transferred to the city.
The city recently finished demolition of a downtown building at 128 S. Main St., also previously owned by Gore, that it purchased from bankruptcy court for $4,000.
“When a property is in a bankruptcy, the court is basically holding onto that property right now,” Kovar said. “I would recommend on that property, we proceed like we did last time, which is contact the bankruptcy lawyer and see if we can get them to give it to the city, hopefully for no cost.”
Council members also will conduct a hearing Sept. 6 on their intension to exceed a revenue neutral rate with the city budget.
Engineer Darin Neufeld of EBH Engineers talked to council members about applying for a public water supply loan to use different technology to remove high manganese levels from city water.
Manganese is an effect of blue green algae.
Water samples sent to the state for testing showed Hillsboro water at the top tier for remediation efforts.
If the city’s request for a $1.1 million loan through the program is granted, repayments will be forgiven.
The system Neufeld envisions is not new technology, but uses existing technology in a different way than has been used elsewhere in the state.