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City no longer paying to demolish building

Fire-burned structure pending sale

By Bert Lehman


A month ago, it appeared the city of Clintonville would be on the hook for the costs of razing a burnt out building located at 5 Ginger Court.

Now, the city is off the hook, pending the sale of the property.

Previously the city had tried to negotiate the sale of the property to a neighboring property owner, but the sale never materialized.

At the Sept. 10 Clintonville Finance Committee meeting, City Administrator Sharon Eveland said she learned the prior week that a neighbor was once again interested in purchasing the 5 Ginger Court property.

The property owner interested in purchasing the property is willing to pay the back taxes on the property, but not the special assessments that have been issued by the city of Clintonville, Eveland said.

The special assessments include $500 for a fire call and $114 for refuse service.

“In order to facilitate the sale of this property, the owner would be responsible for tearing the building down and having that removed, and would be responsible for paying the back taxes,” Eveland said. “But in order to facilitate that process I’m requesting a recommendation to council that in essence we write off that $614.”

She added, “I think to get a property cleared up so the city doesn’t have to spend a few thousand dollars paying for something to remove it’ll never recover the money for, and to get a property at least somewhat back on the tax roll, I think this is the right move.”

The committee approved recommending writing off the $614 in charges, pending the sale of the property.

At the Clintonville City Council meeting the following night, Clintonville City Attorney Keith Steckbauer informed the council he has a signed agreement from the property owner looking to purchase the property, contingent on the council’s approval.

The council unanimously approved the finance committee’s recommendation. The council also approved a write-off of $539.41 on the property for Clintonville Utilities, pending the sale of the property.

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