The City of Mt. Carmel continues working to recover a portion of the costs associated with demolishing unsafe properties.
City Attorney Derek McCullough reported that two properties are currently being sold through the Wabash County Sheriff's sale process. The properties are located at 413 North Market Street, where the city demolished a partially collapsed building several years ago, and 230 Hinde Street.
McCullough explained that when the city demolishes a dangerous structure, it places a lien on the property to recover demolition costs and attorney fees. If the property owner fails to satisfy the lien, the city files a foreclosure action, leading to a sheriff's sale.
He said the process often results in the city taking ownership of the property before it is later offered for sale through sealed bids.
McCullough acknowledged the city rarely recovers the full cost of demolition, noting the city often spends thousands of dollars removing unsafe structures but later sells the vacant lots for only a few hundred dollars. Even so, he said the effort remains an important public service that removes blighted and dangerous properties from the community.
McCullough added another property is expected to be headed to sheriff's sale soon, while three or four additional properties are currently in the demolition order process.