Council members discussed a longtime problem property at the corner of Bentley and Montgomery, describing transient occupancy, unsanitary conditions and frequent trash and dumping that residents say pose a public hazard.

Council member Derry Green, speaking for his district, said the house is “very dilapidated” and that transient activity has produced safety concerns for neighbors. Green said he had spoken with the city attorney and that the city would pursue an engineer’s assessment and legal options: “I’m gonna get with the attorney and see if we can, as a city, condemn it altogether.”

City staff told the council that condemnation requires a finding that a structure meets the state law definition of a dangerous building. Officials said an engineer’s report is required to document conditions such as lack of utilities, structural instability or attractive‑nuisance activity. Staff said some properties lack running utilities and show signs of long‑term neglect; the absence of utilities is one factor officials cited that can support a dangerous‑building finding under state criteria.

Council members also discussed a broader inventory of blighted properties. Staff said a prior grant submission included a list of roughly 62 properties identified as problematic; Robert Wexman, a contracted grant writer referenced during the meeting, had previously submitted paperwork related to that blight grant. Councilors asked staff to obtain and verify the documentation underlying that list.

The council asked staff and the city attorney to return with: an engineer’s assessment for the Bentley/Montgomery property, a legal recommendation on condemnation steps and timeline, and the grant paperwork and property list tied to prior blight applications. No formal condemnation action was taken at the meeting; the matter remains contingent on the engineer’s report and legal review.

Why it matters: If a property meets state criteria for a dangerous building, the city may pursue condemnation and corrective action — which can include notice, a hearing and, where authorized, demolition or abatement — but officials said the process requires documented findings and is subject to legal constraints.