Lewis County orders demolition of unsafe structure at 1057 Ammon Road; heirs offer property transfer

Legislators in the Lewis County Legislature voted to condemn and direct the demolition of an unsafe structure at 1057 Ammon Road in West Lyden, and authorized accepting title to the parcel from the owner’s heirs as an alternative pathway to remove the building.

A county staff member presented a condemnation package at a public hearing, describing the structure as partially collapsed into the Route 26 right-of-way and recommending demolition. The presenter said the property owner, Madeline Zalesko, is deceased (owner deceased since 02/2001) and that her son, Steven Zelasco, has paid taxes on the property since the owner’s death. The presenter told the board that the owner’s son and other heirs had indicated through Steven they would be willing to transfer the property to the county rather than pay demolition costs.

The presenter recommended that the board “confer with the decision of codes and condemn the property, order its demolition within 30 days by the owners or relatives of the owners.” The presenter also asked that the clerk’s packet of submissions be entered into the record.

John Rose, Lewis County Code Enforcement Officer, attended the hearing and was available to answer questions about the structure’s condition. Photographs shown to the board documented the partial collapse and the encroachment toward Route 26; the presenter described the situation as “very dangerous.”

At the meeting the legislature passed two related resolutions: resolution 134 directing the demolition and removal of the unsafe building pursuant to local law number 2-2007 (unsafe buildings law), and resolution 150 authorizing the county to accept title to the property from the heirs as an alternative to enforcement of the demolition order. The board’s action is intended to expedite removal and to establish the county’s ability to recover demolition costs if the county completes work after title transfer.

Nut graf: The county’s action moves an identified public-safety hazard toward removal while using an expedited title-transfer option offered by heirs to remove procedural delays; the county will rely on the local unsafe-buildings law and the title-transfer authority to begin demolition sooner if the deed is conveyed.

Board members asked no additional public-comments during the hearing. The county staff member and Code Enforcement Officer answered procedural and safety questions; staff emphasized the board’s concern about obtaining the deed transfer from heirs so demolition could proceed without the county first funding the work directly.

Ending: The resolutions direct the owner/relatives to remove the structure within 30 days or enable the county to accept title and proceed; the clerk’s record will include the condemnation notice, enforcement officer’s recommendation, and the photographic evidence the county presented.