Anderson house: "It needs to come down now"

For more than a year, a dilapidated house owned by Roger Anderson at 603 and 605 1st Street SE has been a concern repeatedly brought up to the Clarion city council. Though earlier plans had the house’s removal set for December 2015, it still stands.

Judy Haugland, who lives across the street from the property, addressed the council about the property for the third time in the last year. “I’m really disappointed in the council. I really feel if one of you had to live near that property as long as we have, you would have done something about it,” she said.

Recently, the council has gone through some of the red tape to go through with burning the house, including asbestos tests. However, not all arrangements are complete.

The council discussed setting a burn date for December 10 and requiring Anderson to comply, but it was unclear whether the city had a legal right to do so. The council, however, still hopes to remove the unsightly and dilapidated house before the end of the year. “It needs to come down now,” said Mayor Mike Nail.

For the full story and more council business, see the December 1 edition of the Monitor.