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Supervisors direct inspection after board hears about deteriorating Washburn property

Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors · February 11, 2026
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Summary

County officials said a long-vacant Washburn home is now collapsing and staff will conduct a code inspection and assess abatement options; the county attorney outlined nuisance and abandoned‑property actions as potential next steps.

Supervisors asked county staff to pursue inspections and options after a discussion about an abandoned property in Washburn that a supervisor said has been vacant since 2012 and is showing severe structural deterioration.

The supervisor described broken windows, roof failure and trees growing into the eaves and asked whether the county has authority to condemn or abate the property. County attorney Mike (present during the meeting) said an abandoned‑property or nuisance action under county code is one appropriate path, and the health department will perform a preliminary inspection to document conditions and notices required by code.

"The home's been sitting empty since 2012," the supervisor said during the report on the property. County legal staff said such matters sometimes proceed through nuisance abatement or, where appropriate, a 657 statutory action that can result in the county acquiring title for remediation if the owner does not act.

Staff will obtain an inspection, consult code requirements and return with cost estimates for possible abatement and next steps to the board.