Fix-up ultimatums ordered

Marion is telling owners of dilapided buildings to repair them or risk having them torn down at their expense

Marion City Council has instructed City Attorney Dan Baldwin to begin contacting owners of structures the city has identified as dilapidated.

Owners will be instructed to fix up the properties or risk having the structures removed at their expense.

Baldwin presented information in June about a dozen structures in violation of city ordinances.

At a council meeting Monday, he suggested beginning on the west end of town and move east. The first wave of letters will go to a couple of businesses and three or four residences.

Councilman Steve Smith also asked Monday how prohibition of tobacco would be enforced at the baseball complex, where the council has previously heard complaints about tobacco and alcohol use.

“We’re stretching the police department as it is,” he said. “You can only control it so much.”

Councilman Bill Holdeman suggested people move away from those smoking if it bothered them.

The use of alcohol on the city property was not discussed.

Representatives of the American Free Flight Association were on the agenda but did not attend the meeting. A special meeting may be scheduled Monday to address the group’s requested to use the city airport for its model airplane rally.

The next regular council meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. July 26 in the city building.