ROCKINGHAM – Two vacant homes will be demolished after the City Council passed two demolition ordinances Tuesday.
City leaders unanimously gave the green light to demolish the houses at 615 and 617 Rockingham Road.
Deputy City Manager John Massey told council members that proceedings against the two properties began in November.
The properties, Massey said, are owned by the same family and part of the estate of Mattie C. Thomas.
Massey said the city has been in contact with several owners who are interested in selling the properties. There is a buyer willing to buy, but not all of the heirs have been able to agree, he added.
Massey said he had delayed adding the ordinances to the agenda “in the hopes that they would reach an agreement and the city would not have to tear down these buildings, but it looks like we have to do that now.”
The photos included in the agenda package show both houses in extremely poor condition.
According to Massey, both houses are unsafe and there have been vagrants coming and going.
The municipal council issued a separate ordinance for each property.
Following this action, the City Council passed a grant-in-aid ordinance that would establish a special revenue fund to manage the $200,000 the city received from the state.
City Manager Monty Crump said the funds would be used for improvements to Browder Park, including the sports center and improving accessibility for the handicapped.
SURPLUS AUCTION
The council also authorized City Manager Monty Crump to sell surplus city property through the Iron Horse Auction Company.
The online auction is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on October 2 and end at 2:00 p.m. on October 9. All items are located at Rockingham Public Works, 800 Rockingham Road.
Items auctioned include:
- 2006 Ford Crown Victoria
- 2013 Dodge Charger
- 2014 Dodge Charger
- 2016 Dodge Charger
- Chevrolet Caprice (model year 2012)
- 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
- 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
- 2005 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab
- 1998 Ford Explorer (no title)
- 1989 fire engine
- John Deere 757 tractor
- Air compressor
- Multiple generators
The surplus list also includes garbage and leaf carts, lawn mowers and other equipment.
