Mar 16, 2018 2 min read

MONONGAHELA – A Monongahela resident wants city council to take action to address a vacant, blighted home that she called a “health hazard.”

Resident Kathleen Bordini said the home at 115 Church St. is infested with raccoons, gophers and rats. She added the back door has been broken and the house emits an awful stench.

Councilwoman Claudia Williams said city officials are aware of the house and will look at it within the next week. City code enforcement officer Les Pemberton said the home’s owner passed away, there was no will and no relative wants to take responsibility for the property.

Pemberton added as the situation stands now, the city’s hands are tied. “We have to wait for the property to go through foreclosure before we can do anything,” he explained.

Williams said cases like this have caused city council to direct the solicitor to investigate options.

“Our solicitor is currently working to see what options we have, such as cutting the grass and attaching a lien to the property,” she said. Williams added she and Pemberton will address the property.

Williams also announced properties that were on the city’s demolition list and have been torn down but the remediation has not yet been completed. “Those properties have been demolished, but (the lots) will be cleaned up and landscaped,” he said.

Council had the first reading of an amended zoning ordinance to change the zoning of riverfront property from New Eagle to Fifth or Sixth Street and from Carroll Township to the Monongahela Bridge from heavy industrial to mixed use, in order to attract riverfront development.

Councilman William Polonoli said there will be a public meeting on at 7 p.m. March 21 at the city hall to discuss equipment ineeded at the city parks and other recreation topics. He added mulch has been donated and will be spread at the Mounds Memorial Park when the weather breaks.