Scottville continues to fight blight.

Scottville continues to fight blight.

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SCOTTVILLE — City officials to fight blight, which has been the city commission’s top priority for the past several years. Recently, the city sent out 25 letters to property owners who own houses or accessory buildings that have been deemed as blighted, a violation of the city ordinance.

Some of the buildings are carried over from last year’s list and others are new to the blight list. The property owners have 10 days to respond to the city on what their plans are for fixing up the buildings.

“To date all but five of the letters that I mailed have been delivered,” City Manager Amy Williams reported to the city commission. “Of those delivered most of the people have at least called me to talk about their plan to repair what is needed.  In some cases they couldn’t give me a definite date as they are working to find financial assistance to help them fix up the properties.

“As you know this is an ongoing program and as we have talked about we are seeing progress.  I will continue to closely monitor these properties and myself or the Ordinance Committee will give updates at our upcoming meetings.”

The house in the photograph is 109 W. Fourth Street. The house, according to Williams, has been on the city’s blight list for several years. It is now owned by Mason County, due to it being foreclosed because of back taxes. Williams said it is likely the house will go up for tax sale this summer. When or if purchased, the new owner will be responsible for bringing the house back up to city code.

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