ASHLAND — A property with two houses on it that Ashland County commissioners agreed to purchase last week were thought to be unoccupied.
However, a family has lived in one of the houses for nine years.
The woman, who declined to be identified, said she was given 30 days to move out just days before county commissioners voted to purchase the property at 337 Church St. for $150,000 from the property owner, Kenneth Sidle, who lives in Columbus and hires a local company to manage the property.
She said she is in contract to buy a house in Ashland, with the closing date set for Feb. 17, but said she is worried she might be homeless if the deal collapses.
Commissioner Jim Justice, who brokered the deal on behalf of the county, said Thursday he was told no one lived there anymore.
“(The county’s) closing is on March 1,” Justice said. “I’m only doing what (Sidle) said he could do. I haven’t talked to her, he’s the one who said that’s what’s happening and I have to take him at his word.”
Sidle was not immediately available to comment.
Commissioner Denny Bittle said if the woman cannot close on her new house, the county will figure it out.
“I mean, if she can’t find a place to live, we’re not kicking her out,” Bittle said.
Justice agreed, adding the county’s closing date on March 1 is tentative.
“I’m not wanting to put anyone out. But on the other hand, we have a deal in process,” he said.
The commissioners’ plan is to tear down the existing structures and build a new office building that would house county offices such as the treasurer, auditor, coroner and others.
