Dateline: June 26, 2008

Parties seeking solution to house 

A city order calling for the destruction or removal of a house at 719 W. Sixth is on hold following last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Attorney Rus Bailey, representing Russell Keown and Helen Parker, addressed the board and put forth a proposal to repair the house. Bailey said the house would be sealed to prevent entry by people or animals within 30 days and said other repairs, such as filling in the front porch and shoring up the roof, would be completed in 60 days.

But neighbors of the property expressed concerns about the proposal.

“Haven’t we been through this before,” Heather King asked. “It seems like they just do enough and then let it go again.”

King said she had lived next to the house and the only work on the property she has seen is that it has been mowed twice.

Reneé Betts said she’s lived next door for nearly 12 years and had to look at the property. Her husband, Grett, echoed her comments.

“I’ve been to Russell Keown’s house and see out his kitchen window,” Mr. Betts said. “He has a great view. I wish he could see my view out my kitchen window.”

Parker complained that none of the neighbors have ever called them personally to complain about the house. Mrs. Betts took exception to that and said she had in fact called Parker several years ago.

The aldermen met in closed session with City Attorney James Shelton and afterward agreed to allow two weeks during which time the property owners’ attorney and Shelton will work out a written agreement about the work to be done on the house.

Shelton said the June 27 deadline for the destruction or removal of the house would be on hold and noted that the city was in no way waiving any of its rights in this matter.

In other business, the board also discussed regulations on electronic signs and prohibiting trucks with heavy loads in residential areas, but they pushed decisions on those items to the next meeting.