The city of Dana, Greene County’s smallest incorporated city, will get assistance from the county in dealing with an abandoned property. The Greene County supervisors agreed in principle to help with the demolition of a house on the west edge of the town, although the board hasn’t decided what that help will be.
Dana mayor Jack Pedersen talked with the board about a property at 201 Anyer St. The unsightly and dilapidated house was recently acquired by the city. Pedersen estimated a cost of $4,000 to $6,000 for demolition.
The county secondary roads department has in the past assisted with projects in Jefferson, Rippey, Scranton, Grand Junction, Churdan and Farlin. The county has assisted in hauling material away, with landfill tipping fees, and with fill dirt at sites.
County engineer Wade Weiss had previously talked with Pedersen about the project, and he is in favor of helping on it. He suggested that the county help with the cost of hiring a contractor to raze the house, and that secondary roads help with removing the stone basement and hauling away debris.
The board agreed, but the source of the county funds was up for discussion. The city of Dana has received no Dreyfus funds over the years, and the supervisors talked about using that discretionary fund for the project. However, a precedent has been set to use Dreyfus funds for building, not demolition.
Weiss told the supervisors that tearing down the house would be a community improvement in Dana. Board chair John Muir agreed. “In a town of 30 people, this is an improvement. If Rippey gets to that point, we’ll do it there, too,” he said.
