By DAVE SCHULTZ
Four buildings — two houses on Lancaster Street, another on South Street, and a garage on Ohio Street — were ordered repaired or demolished by the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety Tuesday.
Building Commissioner Ted Smith brought orders for the structures to the board and his recommendations were upheld on each one.
The two Lancaster Street buildings are right next door to each other — 827 and 901. Neither one is currently occupied.
The co-owner of the house at 827 Lancaster, Caesar Flores, lives in Los Angeles but Smith said Flores is planning to return to Indiana and repair the house. Smith’s report says the roof, windows, floors, and foundation need to be repaired, utilities must be reinstalled, and structures must be removed from the property.
The property at 901 Lancaster is owned by Danny W. Howell, and Smith said he has been unable to contact him. The order says the porch is collapsing, the roof must be repaired, and the house has broken windows. The utilities have also been disconnected.
The house at 1014 South St. was severely damaged by a fire in February of 2021. Mary Johnson, the owner of the house, said she is going to have it taken down.
A garage at 618 W. Ohio St. will also be taken down, Smith noted that the roof is collapsing on the structure.
The owners of the property, Russell S. and Laura Jean Iida, were present for he meeting. Laura Jean Iida said a utility box was on the garage but it was removed at the end of January. Demolition is planned, she said
The orders for all four properties said whatever work is done should be completed by May 2. Since that date is a Tuesday, the orders will be reviewed for status at that day’s Board of Works meeting.
daves@news-banner.com
