Open burning, tornado siren among council topics

Two Cambridge City homes destined for demolition might have a new lease on life, but another homeowner is upset about raccoons, chickens and a pig at adjacent properties.

Packing town hall, several residents asked questions or raised concerns during Cambridge City’s Aug. 12 council meeting.

Blight

• Council previously approved an unsafe building demolition order for homes at 411 and 415 W. Front St., but there’s new hope for the properties. Potential buyers specialize in fire and water cleanup through Hartzell Restoration and say they have the equipment and staff for renovations. They would focus on exterior repairs first. Council had successfully received a grant through Wayne County’s blight elimination project to tear them down. Economic Development Corp. President Valerie Shaffer was present and said EDC would hold that grant so the town isn’t taking a risk while everything’s sorted out.  
• Resident Chad Wissler raised concerns about thick poison ivy and animals in the first block of East Front. He said four raccoons live in the nearby building, sending his family indoors after dusk and setting off his security system a dozen times nightly. He’s also tired of tolerating chickens that wake him and scents from a pig. Wissler said tree issues between the properties led to $22,000 damage to his vehicle. In addition, Wissler said a nearby unmoved vehicle’s mildew and lichen looks like a ship in Boston Harbor. Ken Risch, public works superintendent, said he’d add those addresses to his list for review.  

In other business

• Fire Chief Jeff Gabbard said he’s ensuring the town’s tornado siren will be fixed after it wasn’t audible during recent severe weather.
• Raising awareness and enforcement of the town’s burn ordinance was discussed. Open burning has become an issue in town and could lead to a fire destroying one or more homes. Firefighters may extinguish outside fires that neighbors report as nuisances. Police handle enforcement.
• Risch said a curb in the 400 block of Maple Street will be repaired after a water leak. Ed Smith asked who’s responsible for nearby sidewalks because some are unsafe for kids and seniors using walkers. The town will remove bad sidewalks for free, but homeowners are responsible for replacing them. A council committee will explore the issue.
• Shaffer asked Cambridge City to continue sharing half its economic development tax revenue (about $50,000 annually) with EDC for countywide development. She noted the $1 million investment in wastewater treatment plant construction, helping Cambridge City apply for federal funds toward a new industrial park water tower, connecting students with internships and jobs, and contributing to the town’s playground campaign. Council could vote in September.
• The town received one construction bid for a performance venue. It will be discussed at the Sept. 9 meeting.
• Council will develop a capital investment plan to prioritize town equipment purchases and maintenance and seek funding.
• Council chose Bill Roettger to fill Steve Brown’s Western Wayne Regional Sewage District seat.
• A $1,115 donation was accepted from H & S Timber for a good oak log in a Creitz Park tree damaged during recent storms.