A Medaryville blight elimination project has been delayed yet again. The house formerly owned by Don Foust was set to be demolished last month with grant funding from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. But Pulaski County Building Inspector Doug Hoover told the county commissioners Monday the house still hasn’t been torn down.
The project faced several delays earlier this year, as Hoover worked to get the proper documentation for the various state agencies. Now, Hoover says it’s the demolition contractor who’s run into some problems. “Unfortunately, the company that’s demolishing it had a disgruntled employee, and it really hurt us,” he explained. “But they’re trying to make it right, and we’re hoping next week.”
Hoover said he’s gotten a bunch of complaints from local residents. “I’ve had phone calls that we’re spending too much money on that blight. First of all, it’s a grant. They thought it was too much money. What was it, about $12,000? If I was going to do it, you know how I’d do it, but we have to do through the state, and there’s a lot of – like for example, the paint has to be taken to a certain place, that old refrigerator.” Additionally, Hoover said asbestos removal has been completed.
County officials have been working on demolishing the home for the past six months. Once it’s done, the county plans to donate the land to Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity to potentially build a new home on the site.
