The Knox Board of Public Works discussed the property at 18 South Main Street during their meeting last week.
City of Knox Mayor Dennis Estok stated the property is still not completely cleaned up from its June 2022 fire. He added the concrete floor as well as the last standing wall of the building still need to be removed. In a previous story it was announced the owner of the property did not have insurance, did not tear down and clean up the burned structure and failed to pay the issued civil penalty of $5,000.
Mayor Estok told WKVI News since the owner failed to clean up the property while also not paying the civil penalty, the city had to pay for the clean up in its entirety. He added with the civil penalty, the total amount owed to the city is $24,615.95. He went on to say the city moved forward with a special assessment on the property.
A special assessment is a surtax levied on property owners to pay for specific local infrastructure projects. Mayor Estok stated while the owner has been notified of the total amount owed toward the clean up, they will now also be notified when they pay their taxes this coming spring.
It was announced in the Board of Public Works meeting last week the city has a lien on the property. Mayor Estok went on to say this could take two to three years before the city could potentially take ownership of the property at 18 South Main Street.
