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Staff member: legal limits prevent immediate clearance of abandoned houses; board to seek legal help
Summary
Staff member said many abandoned houses are tied up in probate and the group "does not have the legal authority" to bulldoze or promptly clear those properties; the board has been asked to pursue legal assistance and there is investor interest in at least one property.
Staff member described enforcement and property‑maintenance challenges, saying that some abandoned homes have fallen into "probate purgatory" and that the group lacks the authority to take unilateral action. "No we cannot just go in and bulldoze this property as much as somebody may want to — we don't have the legal authority to do that," the staff member said.
The staff member explained that by the time heirs are located and back taxes addressed the condition can worsen. He said the board has been asked to pursue legal help to resolve such cases. The staff member also noted investor interest in one long‑neglected house, which could lead to restoration if a sale proceeds.
