Borger commission orders demolition, authorizes abatements and delays other code cases

The Borger City Commission on a unanimous voice vote approved a demolition order for a long-vacant house at 1225 Thompson Street, authorized city abatement of junk and debris at 214 Moreland and 709 California Street, and agreed to review or table several other property cases at its next meeting.

Commission action followed staff reports that most properties before the commission posed ongoing nuisance or safety problems. Staff told the commission the owner of 1225 Thompson died in March 2024, the house has had squatters and unauthorized utility use, and “they have made no progress since they came before the board last time,” a staff member said during the April inspection. The commission adopted staff’s recommendation for demolition.

The demolition order matters because the house has been the subject of repeated complaints and on-site inspections. In addressing 1225 Thompson, staff reported seeing a tent in the backyard and that electricity was on in the house despite prior disconnections. The commission’s motion to demolish was made and seconded on the record and carried.

At 214 Moreland — where staff said a house had already been demolished and weeds and some trash remain — commissioners voted to authorize the city to abate trash and debris to make routine mowing and maintenance possible. A staff member told the commission that notices had been posted at the lot but the city had not heard from the owner on file.

The commission similarly approved a motion allowing the city to abate the property at 709 California Street after staff described a significant amount of crash and debris, a burned shed still on the site, and the property owner’s recent health problems. Staff said the city would place the property in the abatement queue and proceed if the owner did not address the condition.

Not every case resulted in immediate removal. For 1021 North Hedgecoat (Lot 10, Block 3, Phillips edition), the commission heard from Eric Elasco, who said he was speaking for homeowner Donald McDurties and asked for more time to clean and repair the property instead of demolition. Elasco said cleanup of exterior debris could be completed in “a couple of weeks” and urged the commission: “Definitely not demolish it … he has nowhere to go.” The commission voted to revisit that property at the next meeting and directed staff to check progress.

A continued case at 134 R Line (Lot 17–18, Block 8, North Hill Addition) was tabled until the next meeting after a property representative reported ongoing work and the commission concluded more time was needed to assess progress.

Commission members and staff noted practical limits and procedures during the discussion. Staff explained the city’s roll-off dumpsters are typically provided once a year and remain on site for 24 hours; scheduling the equipment on a Friday could allow crews to pick it up the following Monday and request another the next week if needed. Commissioners also confirmed that several of the properties had been the subject of prior meetings and repeated inspections.

The commission expects to revisit the listed properties at its next regular meeting, which participants discussed as the first Thursday in June, and staff said notice would be posted before that meeting.