A local resident’s concerns with having to demolish a dilapidated structure on his property more than a decade ago were rehashed with Bowman city commissioners this week.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
A local resident’s concerns with having to demolish a dilapidated structure on his property more than a decade ago were rehashed with Bowman city commissioners this week.
Brian Caron of Bowman told the Bowman City Commission at its regular meeting Tuesday that he was curious about multiple properties around the city that he deemed unsafe were still standing, unlike his.
Caron claimed he was pressured to raze the structure but was never given an actual, consistent explanation why. He alleged that Bowman City Attorney Steve Wild, who was present at the Tuesday meeting, said Caron could either tear down the building or hire an attorney and prepare to go to court.
“That does sound like something I would say,” said Wild, but added that it was a courtesy call, after a complaint was received, instead of immediately bringing him into court.
Lyn James, president of the commission, agreed.
“It was complaint driven,” James continually explained to Caron.
Yet Caron said the previous chief of police told him that no complaints had been recorded on his property.
James and Wild each insisted there was a complaint.
Canon’s concerns called into question whether the city has acted unfairly toward residents, including him, which was the basis of his claims.
“I didn’t have an option,” Caron told James. “…You only had a certain amount of time to get it done, or else. How many other people have been told that specific wording?”
Wild, who handles legal issues regarding ordinances and their enforcement for the city, said he would treat, and has treated, Caron the same as he would any other Bowman resident.
“If there are complaints, I will do my best to address them,” he told Caron.
That was the case in 2014 with a structure at the corner of First Street and First Avenue, across from Curt’s Sheet Metal. That structure was deemed unsuitable after receiving complaints and was voluntarily torn down in 2014.
Though Caron suggested other properties inside city limits appear in similar states of disrepair but no action had been taken.
Bowman Police Chief Chuck Headley said at the meeting that he was not qualified to determine what was or was not unsuitable for habitation, explaining that he did not possess extensive knowledge or certification pertaining to contracting or engineering.
He also admitted that he and his officers do not actively patrol the city looking for structures that would be potential candidates to be torn down.
Only if a complaint were received would the matter be brought to the attention of the city, which would proceed per the city’s housing ordinances.
Wild quashed the escalating frustration at the meeting by asking Caron to visit with him at his office next week to discuss the matter in private, to which Caron agreed.
