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County eager to demolish eyesores

Commissioners begin choosing blighted buildings that will be rehabbed or torn down with federal funding.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 9:47 PM Monday, September 14, 2009

HAMILTON — Butler County commissioners debated whether to fund a new Monroe library but decided against tearing down an eyesore in Seven Mile with a federal grant meant to aid the local housing market.

The county is moving ahead with plans to demolish blighted homes, including seven in New Miami, commissioners decided Monday, Sept. 14.

Funding is coming from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which allocated Butler County $4.2 million to tear down and rehabilitate blighted homes. Hamilton and Middletown each received separate slices of the program.

The county asked local governments to list properties that should be demolished. Countywide, officials hope to tear down roughly 50 buildings.

New Miami’s list included three dilapidaed buildings in a row on Cain Street.

But commissioners denied Seven Mile’s request to tear down a long-vacant gas station.

“If you open this up, and there has been leakage, and it’s migrated across the street... it’s into the water table, what are you going to do?” Commission President Donald Dixon asked. “You can’t obligate our taxpayers to something that could be multi-millions of dollars.”

Dixon argued that the program should tear down as many houses as possible to maximize bang for the buck.

But what if there aren’t enough blighted houses to obligate the federal dollars by the October 2010 deadline?

Community Development Director Donna Everson suggested the county include some big-ticket items, like the purchase of an unused building in Monroe for roughly $500,000 that the city council wants to turn into a library and community center.

Dixon said the building was overpriced and would be costly to fix up, and the city would be better served building a new library. “I don’t want to waste it just because we have it,” he said.

“I don’t want to lose it,” countered Commissioner Gregory Jolivette.

“I don’t think we should turn a blind eye to potential community projects,” he said. “Maybe there is some value to having a library in Monroe that would help with other development there.”

With Commissioner Charles Furmon absent, the issue was tabled for a later vote.

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I live in Seven Mile and can tell you that the demolition of the old gas station should be a priority. Gas leaking into our water supply!?!? I'm glad county commissioners are concerned with the health and well being of Seven Mile residents. If they don't do anything now it's only going to cause more problems and cost more money to do it in the future. Let Monroe build their own library. Those gov't boneheads obviously don't give a r@t's @ss about the "little people" of Butler County.

Seven Mile Resident
4:04 PM, 9/15/2009

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How does it work that one man can make all the decisions for the county without taking into account the needs of the individual jurisdictions? Isn't the Commission a three person board? It appears that Dixon is on a serious power grab, thinking that his ideas and knowledge are far superior than the professionals and the rest of the community. He is frittering away opportunities to make a positive difference without affecting the overall General Fund one bit. Listen to the communities you serve!

notjustmywords
1:37 PM, 9/15/2009

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FOUL! This is probably unethical & criminal. From the article, "Funding from FEDERAL Neighborhood Stabilization Program, $4.2 million to tear down & rehab HOMES". A leaking gas station is EPA, drinking water with gas in it is board of health. Libraries are NOT homes! If you know Dixon is getting no bid building contracts paid for by tax dollars, REPORT his A** to the State Attorney General! Rehabing would put people to work! I'm so sick of crooked politicians! All while we pay more & more tax!

STILL FED UP
12:52 PM, 9/15/2009

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"County eager to demolish eyesores"

...How about the big ugly green sign that says Michael A. Fox Highway? Nothing quite like aggrandizing one of our our biggest embarrassments.

Alan
11:55 AM, 9/15/2009

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Once again the Butler County Commissioners have chosen to ignore the standards of the office that they were elected for by trying to gain votes instead of doing what is right with the money alloted by the federal grant money. Seven Mile does not have the larger amount of voters so clean water in the Seven Mile area is not important to them. Brushing it aside only compounds the problem.
Where's the library in Seven Mile?

Christy Brainard
11:44 AM, 9/15/2009

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