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Iron River sues Iron County to get condemned houses demolished

CRYSTAL FALLS — Iron River has filed a lawsuit against Iron County requiring it demolish two county-owned foreclosed and condemned houses within the city.

County commissioners Tuesday discussed the pending litigation and directed their civil counsel, Steve Tinti, to file an appearance in the case and a motion to extend deadlines until the county hears back from its insurance carrier.

The county acquired the properties at 46 Seventh Ave. and 814 Grant St. in recent years through delinquent taxes. 

The lawsuit claims the two structures are “dangerous and pose an immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Iron River.” The buildings are deteriorated and uninhabitable, likely to collapse, have open doors and windows that make them an “attractive nuisance” to children who might play inside, and are in violation of the city’s nuisance ordinance, the lawsuit states.

Iron River City Manager David Thayer sent the county letters June 22 as notification the properties were declared condemned and needed to be demolished within 60 days.

County Board Chair Tim Aho said the county owns multiple similar properties throughout the county and plans to clean up all of them. However, the state offers little to no money for demolition costs, he pointed out.

It would have been nice, Aho added, to spend any available funds on demolition instead of attorney fees.

The board Tuesday also:

— Agreed to modify a previous decision to transfer county property on Bates-Amasa Road at the Paint River to Bates Township for use in creating a park and rustic campground. 

The board in November approved the transfer with multiple conditions: only the west side of the property was included, the township had to invest $20,000 in it within the next year, it could only be used as a public park and the county would maintain timber rights.

But Bates Township came back with a counter proposal to allow for more time to complete improvements and to create a similar arrangement to what the county has with Crystal Falls Township for Gibson Lake Park. 

The board agreed with most of the counter proposal and decided: the transfer will include both east and west sides of the property; the township must invest only $5,000 in the property by Dec. 31, 2019; the property can only be used as a public park; and the township will have timber rights. 

However, the Iron County Road Commission will have an easement to access its adjoining property. 

— Directed County Administrator Gene Smith to start union discussions on possibly making two employees in the county clerk/register of deeds office chief deputies and increasing their wages. The two have taken on more duties and are a “great asset to the county,” Iron County Clerk/Register of Deeds Joetta Greig said.

Aho had concerns the employees’ job descriptions of “running the office” may place them at a management level instead of a union position. The board was unable to take any immediate action without first consulting with the union, he noted.

— Reappointed Linda Bigelow to a five-year term on the Iron County Housing Commission.

— Agreed to reconvene this morning to consider resolutions on the Indian Lake special assessment district bonding issue. The resolutions require a super majority of the board, and only three members — Aho, Jim Brennan and Patti Peretto — were present Tuesday.

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