Magistrate finds unsafe vacant structure at 24738 Newberry Lane; order allows future abatement if needed

Greta Monroe, the City of Newberry code enforcement officer, told the special magistrate that an unsafe vacant structure at 24738 Newberry Lane had been deteriorating since inspections in September 2024 and remained in poor condition as of a January 6, 2025 site visit.

Monroe said she opened the case Sept. 4, 2024, posted an unsafe-structure notice, and mailed a notice of violation with an initial compliance date of Oct. 2, 2024. She told the magistrate the property is not homesteaded and that a tax lien was assessed on July 7, 2023 for six years of illegal exemptions. Monroe said the city has received an estimate for a potential city-funded teardown and that a private buyer had expressed interest; she said city action could depend on whether a tax-deed sale occurs.

Monroe recommended a full cost of prosecution of $150, a 30-day compliance deadline, and a $50-per-day assessment if the owner does not comply. She told the magistrate that the remedy the city seeks is abatement and demolition if necessary. "We would like permission from you to impose the abatement of the property if it comes to that, and then we would come back for you for the, possibly with the, lien," Monroe said.

The magistrate found hazardous lands and dangerous-structure violations under the city's code and ordered compliance within 30 days. The magistrate said the city would return if abatement or a lien had to be pursued after the tax-deed or other title developments were resolved. The magistrate assessed the prosecution cost and the daily fine schedule but did not execute an immediate abatement or lien from the bench.

Ending: Code enforcement will monitor title developments and the tax-deed process; the city may return to request abatement authority or to record a lien if the property remains unsafe and funding or title conditions require it.