HUBBARD — The decision to demolish a nuisance property in the township was approved earlier this week — but not without heavy debate.

Trustees voted 2-1 to hire Crump Construction for the demolition of the McDowell Street structure, costing $9,700.

Trustee Jason Tedrow, who voted against it, questioned why they were going to spend $10,000 in township money to demolish a house that would eventually be put up as a lien.

“It’s going to go to the land bank at that point, and they’re going to sell it for $500 to $1,000; they’re going to waive any liens on it to give it a clear title, and we’re not going to get anything out of it,” Tedrow said. “The neighbors have been complaining about that house for years, and you already told me one of them wants to buy it as a lot.”

Trustee William Colletta said it was fine, because the buyers would have to pay the lien, with which Tedrow disagreed and reiterated would be wiped by the land bank.

Fiscal Officer Jennifer Evans asked when the land bank would take control of it, which Tedrow said could happen because the property was behind on taxes, missing payments in 2025’s first half and the last half of 2024.

Tedrow said he was never okay with using the township’s money for demolitions since they sent the 30-day letter to the owner, adding that he had asked multiple times whether the owner was in agreement with it.

“We could have used the Council of Governments last year, which they could have done through the county and they still offered that process and everything else that wouldn’t cost our township $10,000,” he said.

Colletta said that wasn’t what the property’s owner did, making it so trustees had to follow through on the process first.

Trustee Monica Baker questioned whether they would be setting a precedent with the motion, because of other properties in the township that were in similar or worse condition than the McDowell Street property.

Evans said it wouldn’t be an “apples to apples” comparison because the houses on McDowell Street were on top of each other. The health department deemed it unlivable and the fire department considered it an immediate problem, she added.

Colletta said the Ohio Revised Code “strictly” said they weren’t setting a precedent.

“We could follow the ORC code to the T, and some we can demo, some we cannot; the three entities declared this house — number one, the health department (declared it) unlivable,” Colletta said. “The police chief has deemed we need to take it down, and the building inspector.”

“You cannot get in (to the house). It’s unsafe to get in; all three of them declared that,” he added. “There’s a motion on the floor; if we get a second, we’ll move forward. If not, you two are going to talk to these people that live next door.”