ASHLAND – Ashland city council approved an ordinance Friday accepting the forfeiture of the former Olna Janes’s bar to the city.
Located at 215 E. Main St., the building previously was foreclosed upon by the county. It then went unsold at sheriff’s sale before being offered to the city.
Mayor Matt Miller said the council’s approval officially acts on discussions that began more than a year ago.
“Part of the reason we discussed it in the past was because if you take a look at the back side of that building, the wall of the building is the wall to Town Creek, and parts of the building actually extend over Town Creek,” Miller said.
Miller said the building has been deteriorating, causing concern among city leaders about what might happen should the building collapse.
Law director Richard Wolfe said any significant collapse of the building could create flooding downtown.Â
When the county informed the city the property was available for forfeiture to the city, Miller said, he and city engineer Shane Kremser agreed to take the property.
“We need it for practical purposes to protect our infrastructure that runs down through the middle of town, but also, the building is one of the eyesores at the entrance to downtown,” Miller said, adding that the property is also across the street from homes the city hopes to acquire and demolish as part of the Center Run Trail project.Â
The only cost involved in the acquisition of 215 E. Main St. is the recording fee, but acquisition of other property and cleanup of the building could result in additional expenses.Â
The building’s west side is attached to an adjacent building that houses Chad’s Collision, and Miller said he has talked with the business owner about the possibility of selling that property to the city. Â
“I do think there is an interest, but that conversation took place months ago and nothing is in the works right now,” Miller said.Â
Wolfe said by owning one of the parcels, the city will have more leverage in determining what happens to the buildings and the walls along the creek.Â
Council member Dan Lawson asked whether the building poses any immediate structural concern.Â
“We’ll take a look at that,” Miller responded. “I think it’s part of a larger discussion of whether or not it’s time to take over that whole building and remove it. Believe it or not, I’ve even had a private investor that has offered to help in this situation, just because they too would like to see it go away.”
In other business, city council members balanced the books for the year by creating $569,469 in additional appropriations and transfering $165,300 within existing 2018 appropriations. A majority of the additional appropriations resulted from the city receiving more more income tax revenue than expected.Â
“This is a good thing,” Finance Director Larry Paxton said. “We’re actually receiving more money than we anticipated.”Â
