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Council orders owners to repair or remove two hazardous properties; one owner says demolition likely
Summary
The council approved resolutions ordering owners of 820 Seventeenth Street SE and 21164 Everton Avenue to repair hazards or remove structures by July 1 after building official inspections found both properties unsafe; the owner of 820 Seventeenth Street emailed that demolition with a contractor is likely.
Forest Lake City Council on April 28 approved two separate resolutions declaring two single-family properties hazardous and ordering the owners to repair or remove the structures by July 1, 2025.
City staff described the administrative process under the city’s hazardous-building procedure and the court-driven enforcement path if owners fail to comply. For both properties the building official conducted exterior inspections on Feb. 25 and issued reports finding structural failures, collapsed roofing and unsecured openings that meet the local statutory criteria for hazardous buildings. Council adopted the required council resolutions and orders to place the matter on the statutory enforcement timeline.
At 820 Seventeenth Street Southeast, owner Michael McCoy emailed staff on the meeting day acknowledging receipt of the notice, saying the cabin had deteriorated for years and that he planned to work with a contractor to demolish the structure because he did not think repairs were feasible. Staff told the council that demolition by the owner would satisfy the order, otherwise the city would pursue the court default-judgment route and then demolish and assess costs to the property.
At 21164 Everton Avenue North, staff reported severe decay, roof collapse, large openings and evidence of animals on the premises. The certified-mail return confirmed property owners Nels Sanford Nelson and Emma K. Hamer received notice; staff said no response had been received and that the city would inspect the site after the July 1 deadline and, if the structure remained, seek a court order to authorize city removal and certification of costs to property taxes.
Staff explained the enforcement timeline: the council’s order is served; property owners have 20 days to file an answer; if no answer is filed and the work is not completed, the city seeks a default judgment in court, performs demolition and assesses costs against the property tax roll. Staff emphasized that costs, including legal and contractor fees, are tracked and ultimately can be certified to property tax statements.
