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Council declares 4 Pond Street a dangerous building, authorizes demolition and lien
Summary
After testimony from the code enforcement officer about structural collapse and debris, the Presque Isle City Council adjudged 4 Pond Street a dangerous building, ordered owners to abate within 30 days or face a $100-per-day civil penalty, and authorized demolition with costs placed as a lien on the property (unanimous vote).
The Presque Isle City Council on July 1 declared the house at 4 Pond Street a nuisance and dangerous to life or property, and authorized the city to demolish the structure and place the demolition cost as a lien on the property if the owners do not abate the hazard within 30 days.
Code enforcement officer Jason told the council the building’s "overall structure of the building is faulty," saying portions of the floor entering the kitchen have "started to sag" and interior ceilings have caved in after leaks. Jason said household debris blocks access to the crawl space, preventing a full inspection, and that the owners are no longer living in the dwelling. "It is just, unfortunately, it is to the point where they ceased living in it," he said.
Based on that testimony a councilor moved that the council adjudge the property owned by Rodney York and Danielle Karen a nuisance and dangerous, order abatement within 30 days to the satisfaction of the code officer, assess a $100-per-day civil penalty for noncompliance, and direct the city manager to cause demolition and removal with the cost charged to the real estate as a lien. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously, 7–0.
City Manager Sonia told the council the city would seek legal advice about the liability and recovery process once demolition is complete, and that the owners would be held responsible for demolition costs "in some form or fashion." Jason said the mobile unit on the property would be moved before demolition and that the owners would retain title to the parcel unless other legal steps are later taken.
The council’s order begins a 30‑day compliance period; if the owners fail to abate the dangerous conditions the city may proceed with demolition, recover costs as a lien against the property and assess the stated civil penalty.
