Time’s up for Neece house; city taking demolition bids

The Clarendon City Council moved forward with orders to demolish the historic Neece home during the city’s regular meeting Thursday, January 13.

The home at 602 S. Bugbee has been the subject of recurring code issues dating back to 2014 with the city going back and forth with property owner Linda Lewis, who had hoped to restore the structure.

On December 2, Lewis’ husband asked the city council for more time to repair the house, but Clarendon Aldermen, following testimony of Code Enforcement Officer Gret Betts and Fire Marshal Jeremy Powell, declared the house as a dangerous structure and ordered its removal within 30 days.

Last week, City Administrator David Dockery told aldermen the city had received a letter from an attorney representing Mrs. Lewis, asking again for more time and promising to remove debris and outbuildings by January 29 and make the house structurally sound by February 28. Dockery said the letter proposed if the owners did not meet those deadlines, demolition could proceed.

Dockery also said the city’s attorney advised that if the council did accept the owners’ request, a bond should be required that would pay the city’s cost for demolition if they failed to meet the deadlines.

Dockery noted that while that might ultimately take the cost of demolition off the city, it would also make the process last months longer and would cost the city additional legal fees. He also said the city attorney had advised that the city not take action on any other properties until this case was finally handled.
With Aldermen John Lockhart and Jacob Fangman absent, the decision on the property was left to the three remaining aldermen.

“I’m done,” Alderman Larry Jeffers said. “It’s more than an eyesore; it’s a health issue. If they haven’t done anything in seven years, why now? They haven’t done anything in the last 30 days.”
Alderman Eulaine McIntosh leaned toward giving the owners more time.

“I hate to spend tax money if we don’t have to,” McIntosh said.

Dockery said demolition will likely cost $55,000 to $60,000, and Mayor Sandy Skelton said he had spoken with neighbors who had all voiced support for the city to take action on the property.

Alderman Terri Floyd was not enthusiastic about the decision facing the council, but ultimately sided with Alderman Jeffers.

“I hate it that such a historic house has gotten to this point,” Floyd said. “It breaks my heart, but I think it’s time.”

Jeffers moved, seconded by Floyd, to approve publishing a bid notice for the demolition of the house. The vote was then 2-1 with McIntosh opposed.

In other city business, aldermen approved amending the city’s employee handbook to provide for more vacation time for employees with longer tenure. City employees get two weeks of paid vacation and can earn an additional week of vacation after ten years of service. With last week’s action, employees with 20 years of service will get four weeks of vacation, and employees with 30 years of service will get five weeks of vacation.

The city council also approved a motion to set up non-interest bearing bank accounts for grant funds for waste water improvements and downtown revitalization. Dockery said those actions should be the final items needed to secure those grants and said award letters should be issued to the city this week.

Dockery also reported on streetlights in the city. A survey recently revealed that 57 of the 265 lights in the city were not working. Public Works Director John Molder developed a way to map and tag light poles with GPS coordinates. That information has been shared with Southwester Electric Power Co., and repairs are now being made to those lights, the administrator said.

Dockery also reported that COVID relief funds from the federal government totaling almost $400,000 have been freed from several of the requirements initially placed on the money. The city can now use those funds for almost any usual government purpose. Dockery recommended the council take its time to carefully consider how best to utilize the money for the benefit of the city.