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Council authorizes filing liens on dozens of properties; pauses for documentation on disputed $79,282 asbestos cleanup at 303 Willow Glenn
Summary
The Alexandria City Council voted to authorize filing demolition or cleanup liens on many addresses across the city and heard extended public comment from a property representative who disputes a $79,282 charge for asbestos cleanup at 303 Willow Glenn; staff agreed to provide an itemized invoice and council allowed a brief period for documentation without committing to reduce costs.
The Alexandria City Council on June 30 voted to authorize filing liens for demolition and related cleanup costs on a long list of city properties and heard an extended, contested public comment about one high-cost cleanup.
During a lengthy public hearing, community development staff presented demolition or securing-and-cleanup costs for dozens of addresses and the council moved, in each instance, to authorize filing liens so the city may recover those costs. The motions were routine and passed with the usual "All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried" responses.
The most contested matter was 303 Willow Glenn River Road, where a property representative, Louis Dan, told the council he had hired a contractor and paid $10,250 but later learned the contractor was not licensed to remove asbestos. Dan said the city is billing $79,282 for cleanup and requested a detailed line-item invoice and time to pursue alternatives. "I do not have the financial resources to pay $80,000 on this building," Dan said, asking the city for documentation and help.
Chad Reed of the Community Development Department said the city used a contractor under its existing asbestos contract and that DEQ (state environmental regulators) had required certain site steps. Reed told Dan the city would provide an itemized invoice and noted the cleanup work was performed to secure the site and remove debris that DEQ identified as asbestos-containing material.
Council members agreed to allow a short period for the administration to deliver the invoice and related documentation; the record reflects staff will provide the requested itemization and the council will reconvene discussion but did not promise any reduction or waiver of the lien. One council member emphasized a two-week exchange of documentation but the meeting record shows the council did not adopt any formal negotiated settlement at that time.
Aside from the 303 Willow Glenn discussion, the council approved resolutions to file liens for demolition or boarding on properties across the city (motions carried item by item). Several other agenda items — rezoning votes, introductions of ordinances and routine procurement approvals — were also handled on the consent calendar and in final-adoption votes.
Next steps: Community Development will provide the requested itemized invoice and supporting documentation to the property representative and the council; liens already authorized will remain on the properties pending further legal or administrative action.
