Hiram – At the June council meeting, Mr. Donald Miles was present to discuss potential progress at the uninhabited property Miles co-owns on Plum Ridge Drive. The property in question has been the topic of discussion at a number of village meetings, as council has fielded multiple complaints from several village residents about the unkempt and potentially unsafe nature of the vacant home and surrounding property. Miles attended the meeting, prompted by a letter issued to both him and co-owner Marylou Texler.
According to Mayor Lou Bertrand, the home has not been lived in for 22 years. He pressed Miles for a timetable of completion for the work required to improve the property and home. Miles claimed to have “made significant improvements to the electrical service at the home within the last five years. He also noted the addition of $20,000 to update footer drains around the house.” He explained, “We’ve put significant investment in the property and don’t want to lose that investment.” He explained that both he and Texler are on fixed incomes due to retirement and disability. He noted that they’ve received quotes to remove dead trees and branches and control ivy that has overgrown the home, but the cost was prohibitive.
Mayor Bertrand inquired as to whether Miles or Texler had received any offers to purchase the property, to which Miles noted they had not. Bertrand pressed him, asking, “Would you be willing to sell with a reasonable offer?” To which Miles noted having received an offer of $45,000 for the property, which, in his thinking, didn’t consider the value of the home. Councilman Chris Szell asked Miles if he had contacted a realtor to ascertain the present market value of the home, citing residents’ complaints of broken windows, a hole in the garage roof, and rodent infestation in the garage. Miles noted he and Texler had not done so.
Szell noted that in the 14 months since Miles and Texler were notified by the Village of the issues at their home on Plum Ridge, “we don’t doubt you’ve made efforts, but no visible changes have been made.” He noted that throughout that extended time period, “your neighbors have been complaining to council.”
“We’ve spent 100s of thousands of dollars on this house,” Miles noted. “It’s our intention to fix it and move back in.” Szell countered, “You are deteriorating the value of neighboring homes. We need to see action.”
Miles attended the May 10th Council meeting in response to a letter issued by the Village requesting that repairs and work be completed by May 6, 2022. It was noted that Miles and Texler first received notification and request for repairs to the property in March of 2021. The most recent letter highlights repairs to the garage roof, repair of broken windows, yard debris cleanup, and re-installation of gas, water, and electric services to the property, and noted that criminal charges could be filed if work was not completed.
Miles noted that as of May 5th, village water service had been reconnected to the property. He added that permits had been received and work was under contract to restore electrical service, as well. He noted, “the work should be taken care of quickly.” After additional discussion, Council urged Miles to call a realtor to ascertain the value of the property and agreed to allow the owners 60 additional days to comply with the village’s recent letter.
Moving forward, resident Ann Patella noted that research to update veterans markers in Fairview Cemetery had been completed for the 2022 Memorial Day observances. She credited Assistant Fiscal Officer Wendelin Taylor and Village Administrator James McGee for their work, noting that 251 veterans are currently interred at the village cemetery, from as far back as the Revolutionary War.
In his Police Report, Chief Brian Gregory updated council on details for the Memorial Day observances (5/30), Hiram College commencement (5/11), and the annual Click it or Ticket seatbelt campaign (5/21). He noted that installation of a Black Lives Matter banner or mural was delayed until Hiram College students return in the fall. Chief Gregory noted that surveillance cameras will be installed nearby to help ensure public safety. Lastly, the Chief shared details on the annual Car Show that will take place on Saturday, June 11th with proceeds earned for the Shop with a Cop program.
The next regular council meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 14th at 7 pm; residents are encouraged to attend.
