The city of Bicknell was awarded a grant last year to demolish blighted homes in the community, but to date none of the homes designated for demolition have been torn down.
City Attorney Michael Edwards told members of the Bicknell City Council last night that they are continuing to work to get a purchase agreement with property owners. However, Edwards says they’re finding out that some of the homes they want to tear down still have mortgages or liens placed on them for back taxes.
Edwards says once they get a clean title to the properties the blighted homes will be demolished. The city will then turn ownership of the cleaned up lots over to the Bicknell Bulldogs, a community led group which plans to maintain the properties once the houses have been removed
The city received a state grant for 415-thousand dollars last October to tear down the homes. They have until April to spend down the funds. Edwards says the city may ask the state for an extension if they are unable to get all of the houses torn down by the deadline.