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Mount Vernon board orders repair timeline for burned house at 106 East Lambertine
Summary
The Board of Property Maintenance and Appeals unanimously condemned 106 East Lambertine for rehabilitation March 24, setting a 30‑day checkpoint for debris removal/mitigation and a 90‑day checkpoint to show construction underway after staff reported the owner had not coordinated repairs since an October fire.
The Mount Vernon Board of Property Maintenance and Appeals on March 24 voted unanimously to condemn 106 East Lambertine for rehabilitation, ordering mitigation debris removal within 30 days and that full restoration be underway within 90 days.
The action followed testimony from property maintenance staff and mitigation contractors that the house, which suffered an interior fire last October, remains soaked, cluttered and unsecured. Brian Marvin of property maintenance told the board the city had previously performed a cleanup that resulted in a special assessment and that he had seen "no damage mitigation, no improvements to the property" since the fire. He asked the board to set a timeline rather than pursue immediate demolition.
Staff described repeated attempts to coordinate mitigation with the homeowner and the homeowner's insurance adjusters. Scott Zimmerman said the homeowner has been in contact with the department but that SERVPRO—named by staff as the mitigation contractor—has been unable to proceed while adjusters and a public adjuster negotiate with the owner. Zimmerman recommended a plan of action within 30 days, with periodic reports, and said crews were standing by to begin mitigation once approval is given.
Board members and staff discussed the legal authority and practical enforcement. Staff cited codified ordinance 130312 as the ordinance that allows the board to issue condemnation-for-rehabilitation orders with enforceable timeframes. City staff told the board that, should the owner fail to show progress after the checkpoints, the city could seek a warrant to inspect and ultimately pursue condemnation and demolition if the structure becomes non‑salvageable.
Ross Wind, the city's community risk reduction inspector, told the board the structure is unsafe to enter and described conditions—including prolonged moisture, mold and rodent attraction—that increase public‑health and safety risks. Wind said a fire department response to a future fire at the site would be defensive only, and that "there's nothing in any of those photos that is worth any fireman's life to save."
The board's motion (moved in the record by the chief and seconded) ordered debris mitigation to begin within 30 days and required evidence that full restoration was underway within 90 days; the motion passed unanimously on roll call. The property maintenance enforcement officer will oversee inspections and report progress to the board. If checkpoints are missed, staff said they will return the matter to the board and pursue additional action, up to condemnation and demolition.
Next steps: property maintenance staff will track mitigation progress, coordinate with SERVPRO and the homeowner's adjuster as possible, and provide updates to the board at the 30‑ and 90‑day checkpoints.
