The Great Bend City Council Monday night agreed with the findings of Building Inspector Lee Schneider and Code Enforcement Officer Stuart Baker that a dilapidated trailer house at 26 Hickory St. is unsafe and dangerous and set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. March 21, prior to the City Council meeting at City Hall to discuss the matter.

According to information provided to the council the property is owned by Troy K. Rich.

Citing Baker’s report, City Attorney Bob Suelter said Baker found the building and premises has become substandard for the following reasons:

• There are no sewer or water services as the residence lacks connections to an approved sewage disposal system and a connection to an approved water supply and such has been deemed unsafe and unsanitary by the Barton County public health officer.

• Human waste was found on the ground on the north side of 26 Hickory near the skirting on the south side, along with a bar of soap.

• The residence lacks an adequate heating source. A make-shift wood stove chimney protrudes from a window in the side of the trailer.

• There is an open old septic tank on the south side of the residence which is covered with wood, but is still unsafe and dangerous and will need to be filled in.

• There is skirting missing from the south, east and north sides of the trailer.

• It is alleged that water is being stolen from 30 Hickory and being used at 26 Hickory.

• The residence was posted with a notice to vacate and not to enter.

• There is an illegal fence made mostly with tin sheeting on the north side of the residence erected without a permit.

• The condition of the premises is an eminent danger to the adjacent property owners and to the public health.

In addition to the above, there is assorted lumber, furniture, and other debris and trash scattered around the lot.

“It’s falling apart,” Suelter said. “This is a problem in a problem neighborhood.”

He said people have been living in the trailer on and off, but it is uninhabited now.