The Climax Village Council approved a bid from Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. at the March 19 Village Council meeting for $13,500 to demolish a house at 329 West Maple Street, remove the old Michigan basement, and clean up the area, plus $1,500 to remove the septic tank after a judge ordered the council could proceed with the demolition.
The house has been condemned approximately four years.
The property owner still owns the property, however the Council will place a lien on the property until the cost for demolition is paid back to the Village. The Council will recoup the cost of demolition when the property owner sells the property.
Since the March 19 meeting, the property owner started the demolition process and removed some of the structure before Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. completed the demolition and cleanup process last week when a Kalamazoo County Sheriff deputy was asked to be on the scene when the demolition process by Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. started.
It is not known if Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. will reduce the original estimate accepted by the Council because the property owner already demolished and removed a significant amount of the structure.
Climax Village Council President David Miller reviewed the history of the house demolition process at 329 West Maple Street at the April 16 village council meeting.
Miller said the Village of Climax unanimously voted to initiate the process by which the property owner at 329 W. Maple Street would be required to make the house habitable or demolish it.
Miller said in his prepared statement the property owner ignored attempts by the Council to communicate with the property owner to discuss plans for the property that the property owner bought at a tax auction in August, 2022. Miller said the property owner did not show up for court hearings for which the property owner received notice. Miller said the property owner failed to comply with the opportunities offered by the Council and the court to rehabilitate or demolish the structure on the property owner’s own.
Miller adds in October, 2022, the property owner received a letter from the Village asking the property owner to remove the former owner from the property as the house was condemned.
Miller goes on to note in February, 2023 the property owner received a letter from the Village asking what the property owner’s plans were for the property as it had been condemned for some time. The property owner was asked to communicate with the council which Miller said the property owner did not do.
The Village President notes the property was ticketed by the Village’s code enforcement officer and the matter was set for an informal hearing August 11, 2023. Miller said the property owner was only required to call the Court in Kalamazoo which Miller said the property owner did not do and an order was entered. The property owner was given 30 days to obtain a demolition permit and demolish the structure and clean up the sight. Miller said the property owner ignored the order.
Miller goes on to note because the property owner did not obtain a demolition permit, demolish the structure and clean up the sight, a court hearing was set for November 20, 2023 to give the property owner an opportunity to explain why the August 11 order was ignored, however the property owner did not show up.
Miller said the attorney for the village sought a hearing to permit the Village to perform the demolition and cleanup at the site. The hearing was held December 15, 2023 and Miller said the property owner did not show up. He said the property owner was given another chance to clean up the property and perform a demolition. The property owner was given 30 days to obtain a demolition permit. After that, the Village was authorized to clean up the site and demolish the structure. The property owner let the time expire according to Miller.
Miller said after the property owner ignored this order, the Village obtained bids for demolition and clean up and selected the low bidder to perform the work.
Miller said the property owner later sent a letter to the Court asking to stay the Court’s order and give the property owner additional time. The Court denied the request at a hearing on February 26, 2024.
Miller said the property owner then commenced to demolish the structure.
On April 5, 2024 the Village posted on the property a Notice of Impending Demolition of the structure. Miller said the property owner began to paint and place signs around the front of the property declaring disdain for the Village Council and Miller.
Miller said the structure has no electricity and water supply. The windows were out and doors were left open. The Michigan basement was open to the elements and animals according to Miller.
The house has been condemned approximately four years.
The property owner still owns the property, however the Council will place a lien on the property until the cost for demolition is paid back to the Village. The Council will recoup the cost of demolition when the property owner sells the property.
Since the March 19 meeting, the property owner started the demolition process and removed some of the structure before Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. completed the demolition and cleanup process last week when a Kalamazoo County Sheriff deputy was asked to be on the scene when the demolition process by Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. started.
It is not known if Robert Bailey Contractors, Inc. will reduce the original estimate accepted by the Council because the property owner already demolished and removed a significant amount of the structure.
Climax Village Council President David Miller reviewed the history of the house demolition process at 329 West Maple Street at the April 16 village council meeting.
Miller said the Village of Climax unanimously voted to initiate the process by which the property owner at 329 W. Maple Street would be required to make the house habitable or demolish it.
Miller said in his prepared statement the property owner ignored attempts by the Council to communicate with the property owner to discuss plans for the property that the property owner bought at a tax auction in August, 2022. Miller said the property owner did not show up for court hearings for which the property owner received notice. Miller said the property owner failed to comply with the opportunities offered by the Council and the court to rehabilitate or demolish the structure on the property owner’s own.
Miller adds in October, 2022, the property owner received a letter from the Village asking the property owner to remove the former owner from the property as the house was condemned.
Miller goes on to note in February, 2023 the property owner received a letter from the Village asking what the property owner’s plans were for the property as it had been condemned for some time. The property owner was asked to communicate with the council which Miller said the property owner did not do.
The Village President notes the property was ticketed by the Village’s code enforcement officer and the matter was set for an informal hearing August 11, 2023. Miller said the property owner was only required to call the Court in Kalamazoo which Miller said the property owner did not do and an order was entered. The property owner was given 30 days to obtain a demolition permit and demolish the structure and clean up the sight. Miller said the property owner ignored the order.
Miller goes on to note because the property owner did not obtain a demolition permit, demolish the structure and clean up the sight, a court hearing was set for November 20, 2023 to give the property owner an opportunity to explain why the August 11 order was ignored, however the property owner did not show up.
Miller said the attorney for the village sought a hearing to permit the Village to perform the demolition and cleanup at the site. The hearing was held December 15, 2023 and Miller said the property owner did not show up. He said the property owner was given another chance to clean up the property and perform a demolition. The property owner was given 30 days to obtain a demolition permit. After that, the Village was authorized to clean up the site and demolish the structure. The property owner let the time expire according to Miller.
Miller said after the property owner ignored this order, the Village obtained bids for demolition and clean up and selected the low bidder to perform the work.
Miller said the property owner later sent a letter to the Court asking to stay the Court’s order and give the property owner additional time. The Court denied the request at a hearing on February 26, 2024.
Miller said the property owner then commenced to demolish the structure.
On April 5, 2024 the Village posted on the property a Notice of Impending Demolition of the structure. Miller said the property owner began to paint and place signs around the front of the property declaring disdain for the Village Council and Miller.
Miller said the structure has no electricity and water supply. The windows were out and doors were left open. The Michigan basement was open to the elements and animals according to Miller.
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