Williston gives owner until April to fix dangerous garage at 517 4th St. W., declares property dilapidated

At a dangerous-building hearing on Feb. 11, city staff described structural and permit issues at 517 4th Street West and the commission declared the property dangerous while granting the owner additional time to complete repairs.

City Attorney Taylor Olson summarized the code-compliance process and said the garage at the property has been determined a dangerous building due to roof failures and other hazards. Development Services Director Mark Schneider told the commission the permits for the property were opened three years ago and multiple extensions had been granted; Schneider said the department has only seen progress since the dangerous-building notice was issued. Kara Robinson of Code Compliance said a contractor was engaged and the garage had been stabilized but was not yet properly anchored to the ground.

Commissioners discussed the appropriate compliance timeline. Mayor Howard Klug asked whether declaring both the house and garage dangerous and offering 60 days would be sufficient; Schneider recommended 60 days on the garage and reassessment of the house. Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk suggested 90 days given the time of year. The commission instead adopted a motion by Cymbaluk, seconded by James Bervig, to declare the property dangerous and allow owner Mr. Reed until April 12 to bring the property into compliance, with the matter to be revisited at the April 22 commission meeting. The vote was unanimous.

The commission’s action places enforcement pressure on the owner while allowing a specific remediation window; the transcript does not record any demolition order or immediate city-initiated abatement at this meeting.