MASON CITY – The city of Mason City has selected the low-bidder to tear down an elderly man’s house – but the issue may not be over yet, as NIT has received word that he has retained an attorney to defend himself.
City Hall officials tell NIT that all action required by the city council was completed August 16, and bids solicited to tear down a house owned by Phillip Flinchum, located at 32 6th Street NW, were opened Friday at 1:30 PM. The demolition bid notice was released on August 22 after the council OK’d tearing the house down. Qualified contractors were invited to submit bids before noon on September 12 (today). The City received two bids, and the low bidder is McKiness Excavating, with a bid of $11,000. The city council will not be voting to approve the low bid. There is $32,000 in the city’s demolition fund.
The wrecking ball could arrive at anytime after the city notifies McKinness that their bid has been approved.
Meanwhile, NIT has been notified that Mr. Flinchum has retained a lawyer to defend him against the city’s action against his property.
Steven J. Van Steenhuyse, Director of Development Services, told NIT that he “cannot comment on pending legal matters.”
Sources tell NIT that the city’s basis to tear down Mr. Flinchum’s home is “flimsy”, especially after city councilman Scott Tornquist told a group of Mason City citizens that the city was not tearing the house down because Mr. Flinchum is a “hoarder” but because the house is “structurally unsafe”.
NIT requested public documents that show an inspection by city building inspectors or engineers that list the structural issues that make the house unsafe.
City Hall replied with 8 pages of documents. The documents supplied to NIT show no evidence that an official inspection of the house was ever made, and city officials appear to have never been inside Mr. Flinchum’s house.
In fact, in the city’s own words in documents submitted to NIT, the entire reasoning behind the demolition of the house states “Due to calls from neighbors about the condition of the property, the past history of nuisance calls and lack of response from Mr. Flinchum and because the property was not being used as a residence we proceeded with a Letter of Intent to Condemn.”
The city then sent various officials to drive by the property, and some pictures were taken. Mr. Flinchum refused to allow city officials into his house. City officials then “looked in the windows” and “found the following violations:”
- Soffits and fascia are rotten and need to be repaired or replaced
- Limestone foundation needs to be tuck pointed in a few places
- Rear steps are falling away from the house and need to be repaired or replaced
- Electrical wiring to the garage is exposed and wiring does not meet code
- Window frames on many of the windows appear to be damaged and/or rotten
- Tree overgrowth is doing damage to house and garage
- Porch support is rotten and needs to be repaired or replaced
As stated earlier, neighbors to Mr. Flinchum’s house seem to be all for the demolition of all structures on the property.
Others, however, aren’t so sure.
The city has never answered NIT’s repeated requests for clarification on why a city councilman, Travis Hickey, was ordered by the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment nearly 4 years ago to connect his two massive garages behind his house, and the city has never enforced that ruling. The board has never rescinded its order.
So now we know this is the reason that the city removed the HRC. I am sure that this case would have come under their purview or at least this man would have been able to seek help and or advice from them. There are many other situations that go noticed because of the destruction of the HRC.
This outrages me like nothing else. What has happen to people caring for one another. The city council should be helping this gentleman out rather than putting him out of his home. I used to be proud of the town I lived in now I’m just sickened by the city actions. Rather than spending 11,000 to demolish this man’s home put my tax money into helping with repairs.
What about all the homes that are still standing from the flood? The city can’t take care of getting rid of those, but they can spend money on an elderly man’s house. There’s definitely Trouble in Mason City.
They have been sold and are being moved.
It was in the rag (GLOB) this morning that a judge has issued a stay on the demolition until there is a court hearing. Now it is going to cost the tax payers a lot of money for legal defense because of the arrogance of our city council.
The things they found wrong with the house is a list of things more than half the houses in need done! Does that mean the city is going the condem all those houses ?
Heres a novel idea, hire a contractor instead of an attorney and show you are making the necessary changes to your dump of a house.
@Elderly Man, think about what you just said. I don’t disagree that this man has had several warnings, but he did what he did because of those warnings. He may have missed the mark by a couple of days but the property looks better now to me by the photo in this article. Why would he hire a contractor that can’t do the work until after the house is torn down? You retain an attorney first to prevent the demo of the house, then comes the contractor.
Hopefully Tornquist opening his big fat mouth may change the outcome. If only he could learn that nobody wants to hear him or even look at him for that matter. AFter the Mayor his is the biggest bully on the council. So is he packing heat at the council meetings too?? It is a shame that our citizens have been so bullied and mistreated by these people that they have given up even trying to make a difference. Maybe in the next election something can be done.
Go get-em Phil…