Aug 6, 2008 By Steve Ferris 4 min read

A group of residents from Uniontown’s West End asked City Council Tuesday to demolish a vacant house on Elizabeth Street that is overgrown with vegetation and a nesting place for raccoons and pigeons. Fran Prah of Elizabeth Street presented council with a petition signed by 58 neighborhood residents who want the house at 320 Elizabeth St. torn down.

The house has been vacant for more than 10 years, except for the raccoons and pigeons that roost there, Prah said.

The dwelling is a health hazard and an embarrassment to neighbors, she said.

Photos she also gave council show high weeds growing around the house, weeds and small trees growing through the porches and other signs of neglect.

Fire Chief and code enforcement officer Myron Nypaver said court hearings have not yet been scheduled on the four citations that were filed in May against the property owner, who no longer lives in the city.

He encouraged residents to attend the hearing and testify about the condition of the house. Some residents asked to be notified about the hearing date.

However, demolishing the house could take some time.

Community Development Block Grant money, which is used to pay for demolishing blighted structures in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, can’t be used on the house in question because it is not in a low- or moderate-income area, Nypaver said, adding that he doesn’t have enough money in his budget to pay for demolition.

The house is not habitable and it was structurally sound, but the roof is now in bad condition and could collapse, he said.

Another resident said a recent storm blew some shingles off the house.

With materials donated by a local contractor, Nypaver said he could have the house boarded up until the case is resolved.

He said it took him five years to have a house on Downer Avenue demolished because of the lengthy legal process involved with demolitions.

Mayor Ed Fike said he would try to recruit some volunteers to cut the grass and clean up the property.

In a separate matter, Janet Bill of North Gallatin Avenue asked council to consider eliminating parking on Main Street in downtown.

She said most people who park on the street are employees working in town and the new parking garage is not generating revenue for the city.

Fike said the parking spaces on Main Street are being “abused,” but a meeting should be held to measure public opinion on the subject.

Councilman Marlin Sprouts said he believes Main Street should be returned to a two-lane road.

He said it takes too much time for one lane of traffic to drive through town and the new garage is not making money.

The right lane of Main Street was converted into parking spaces in October 2004 to help attract customers to businesses.

The $4 million, 270-space garage opened in January 2007. Typically, it is full or near full when residents are summoned to serve on juries in the Fayette County Courthouse.

Fike said the garage brought in more revenue so far this year than last year.

“For the first six months of the year, it did better than in all of 2007,” Fike said.

In other business, council:

– Hired Whitney Nicholson, Fike’s granddaughter, as a part-time clerk working 191/2 hours a week in the treasurer’s office, effective July 21, at a starting salary of $8 an hour with no benefits. Fike, who abstained from the vote, said he had nothing to do getting her the job. He said Treasurer Joseph Giachetti requested the hiring. The Uniontown Area School District will pay half of her salary, according to a letter from Giachetti.

– Appointed David Ross as a full-time firefighter, effective June 24, with an annual salary of $27,777. He completed a six-month probationary period.

– Placed the position of health officer held by Susanne Shearer under the direction of the mayor.

– Agreed to compensate former sanitation department supervisor Lloyd Jenkins for 50 unused sick days and two personal days.