New blight in Hillsboro council sights

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

One unsightly Hillsboro house has been dealt with, but another looms on the city council’s agenda.

The house, at 312 W. Grand St., is owned by Dick and Carla Hein. It has been a point of contention since Oct. 2, when a neighbor told council members he and other neighbors were tired of the condition of the house and that he considered it a nuisance because it attracted animals that used its open crawl space for shelter. It had missing siding, plastic hanging in shreds over bare wood, and double doors that were blocked and unable to open.

The Heins attended Tuesday’s meeting.

City building inspector Ben Steketee updated the council on a list of 10 items council had earlier said needed to be done.

“There was a list of conditions that needed to be met, but as of my inspection Monday, the conditions have been met,” Steketee said.

He said the work has been done on the exterior of the house, which means it is no longer a blight on the neighborhood.

“It’s not habitable, but the conditions have been met,” Steketee said.

Mayor Lou Thurston said he was contacted by a resident about another property in the city that neighbors believe is a blight. Thurston suggested the city update its ordinance on buildings.

City attorney Josh Boehm said revisions would provide more detail to the city’s ordinances.

“As a community, we need to do everything we can to instill pride in the community,” Thurston said.