Two beleaguered Great Bend houses were again topics of discussion at the Great Bend City Council meeting Tuesday night. Public hearings were held for homes at 403 Buckeye and 1007 10th. Both had been on the council agenda at the July 6 meeting and the hearings were set for this week.
Safety officials said the Buckeye home is unsafe and dangerous after it was severely damaged by a fire on Feb. 14. No contact from any interest holders has occurred, said City Attorney Robert Suelter.
“It’s in horrible shape,” he said. Nothing has changed since July, in fact, it’s gotten worse.
The council then adopted a resolution directing the owners to raze the structure by no later than Sept. 30.
According to city reports on the structure:
1. Windows are broken. Loose glass is present.
2. South exterior wall has burned away allowing visibility to the interior.
3. Roof of the structure is collapsed and burned.
4. North exterior wall also has been burned through in multiple locations allowing visibility into and through the other side of the home.
5. Smoke and fire damage exists on the west entrance into the home.
6. The structure is open allowing waste materials to scatter into the neighborhood.
1007 10th Street
A hearing was also held for the property at 1007 10th.
“This is kind of the opposite of the first one,” Suelter said.
Since July 6, the owners and prospective buyers have contacted city staff and presented a plan to rehabilitate and repair the structure.
It was from this home where the residents, including children, were removed due to what was reported to be filthy conditions and a lack of utility services.
But, the prospective buyers have cleaned up the property and hauled several dumpsters full of trash from inside, Suelter said. They have also shored up a support wall.
“They’re really making progress on this,” Suelter said. Although not deemed livable yet, it should be ready in a matter of months.
So, on his recommendation, the council tabled the matter until the Nov. 1 council meeting.
On June 23, city staff was called in response to unsafe living conditions observed by the Kansas Department of Children and Families and Barton County Health Director Karen Winkelman. City and county staff entered the home wearing full-body protective suits, gloves, masks and shoe coverings to document the interior conditions.
Throughout the home, staff witnessed large amounts of loose garbage, food waste, human and animal waste, structural damage to support walls, electrical hazards, no running water, insect infestation, multiple cats, fall risks, low air quality and large amounts of rubbish, he said. There were no kitchen appliances and some walls, possibly load-bearing, had been removed.
That day, a placard was affixed to the home, and the individuals staying at the residence were informed that the property is unfit for living. Emergency Aid Services was contacted to help relocate them.
Utility services were called to shut off the power to the home.
However, at the July 6 meeting, a family member, Eldred Marsh of Hoisington, said they were not aware of the situation in the home. He said it was structurally sound and the family wanted the opportunity to clean, salvage and possibly sell it.
City safety officials said they were willing to work with Marsh and the family, but required significant progress be made in order to be removed from the dangerous structure list.
