Ely city officials seem poised to grant property owners more time to make needed improvements to a home that’s now deemed uninhabitable.
After both a public hearing before Tuesday’s city council meeting and extended discussion during the meeting, the city council will wait until its next meeting on July 1 to take the next steps regarding the home at 45 East Boundary Street.
Property owners Jason Gillson and Mark Herman have to date failed to make repairs sought by city building official Doug Whitney, who has recommended the structure be demolished and removed.
“We’re approaching two years and we haven’t got a permit to rebuild the house,” said Whintey.
But after pleas from Gillson, who was on furlough from incarceration Tuesday, council members pointed toward granting more time to repair the home.
Council member Al Forsman suggested a “stay” of any city demolition order to give Gillson and Herman another chance.
“My intent would be to do just that (a stay),” said Forsman. “With conditions, they work with our building official and follow an agreeable timeline with our building official and our police department, regarding the fact that the house is now not habitable, and that they would stay only to bring the place up to code.”
Council member John Lahtonen added that he agreed with Forsman “100 percent.”
“He (Gillson) came here contrite,” said Lahtonen. “If he’s not going to do it we’ll have him on the hook. Our goal is to get the house cleaned up and fixed up. If he does that everybody’s a winner. If he doesn’t, we can always go down a different path.”
Tuesday’s events marked the latest chapter in a saga that began in September 2023, when the home was set on fire.
Since then, the city has struggled to get the property owners to complete a list of 16 improvements ordered last year.
All but three of the improvements were either not done or are partially done, according to a report submitted by Whitney. Another, the repair of broken doors and windows, was apparently done without a city building permit, or inspections.
The home was declared uninhabitable by the city and Whitney explained that damage came first via fire, which destroyed the electrical system and other part of the home, and more recently when water lines froze.
Whitney said some work was done last year without a permit. Permits were later obtained for mechanical and plumbing work, and that work either failed to be done or was done without inspections.
“The things we were looking for was to get a contractor in to assess damages and apply for permits, and that has not been done,” said Whitney.
Whitney’s report included several photos, including one showing kerosene heaters and electric space heaters inside the structure in an attempt to “thaw” the pipes.
According to Whitney, the house was not warm and the washing machine, laundry tub and hot water heater were “all frozen solid.”
It also appeared the home was being heated by “multiple space heaters as well as the stove top burners on the oven - they were all on.”
Gillson, who led police officers on a high speed chase in the wake of the fire and was later charged with several crimes and incarcerated, told the council “I would like the opportunity to complete the work. I will work with Mr. Whitney, the chief and anybody else who would care to hold me accountable.”
Gillson added that “I’m trying to take ownership for the mistakes that I have made.”
During his testimony, Gillson contended that the damage to the home was not as bad as the city report would indicate, and that he has used insurance proceeds to spend thousands of dollars on a furnace, plumbing and electrical improvements.
“I don’t believe there’s anything structurally wrong or beyond a point of repair or a danger that would necessitate bulldozing,” Gillson said.
The public hearing also included testimony from one neighbor - Sarah Moldenhauer.
Moldenhauer said other neighbors were “too afraid to come” to speak out and added “for me personally I feel unsafe with him living there.”
She said “he’s been there at night when he wasn’t supposed to be there at night,” and called for the council “to be firm and deal with it so we can focus more energy on people who are hard working families and building a community that supports each other.”
Mayor Heidi Omerza responded it’s “hard to set those boundaries” while still respecting Gillson’s rights.
“Our goal is to put teeth into this and on the other hand we do want to see the property improved,” said Forsman. “I’d love to see him back and a positive member of society.”
Lahtonen added “I kind of believe there are two issues here. One is the home and one is the person. If you have an issue with the person, call 911 that’s why we have a police force.”
Police chief Chad Houde confirmed previous issues, including equipment being used as late as 2 a.m.
Council members wrestled with potential conditions to link to a stay, including a timeline for completion of repairs.
Gillson asked for a Nov. 1 deadline while some at the council table pressed for mid-September.
Harold Langowski, the city’s clerk-treasuer and operations director, also pushed for other measures including permitting Whitney to access the facility for inspections, and to make sure licensed contractors complete the work.
“The other issue we had was constant trespass of being there at night,” Langowski said.
Currently, no one is allowed to live at the property and work must be completed during daytime hours.
City attorney Kelly Klun will draft a proposal for the next meeting, one that she said would require that Whitney be granted access and one that would include “a time end date certain” for completion.
