The Town Council of Camp Verde unanimously voted 6-0 to demolish a home at 3195 S. Dinky Creek Drive during its March 5 meeting.
The council heard arguments both for and against the demolition. Town Manager Miranda Fisher said that the building had been identified as a public nuisance and an unsafe structure according to town ordinances and said that a “do not occupy” sign had been posted to the structure on Feb. 22, 2023.
“Since that time we’ve made multiple attempts between notices and opportunities to work with the property owner for compliance,” Fisher said. “However, the property owner has failed to take the necessary corrective actions.”
Fisher repeated that she considered the house to be a danger to public safety and requested that the council authorize staff to file litigation to obtain a demolition order, use public funds to demolish the home and place a lien on the property to recover their costs.
Melinda Jessup, the owner of the property, told the council that she would not have another place to go. She said that she had been surviving for two years and wished to be left alone.
“I cannot clean out the insulation out of the roof and get it prepared for demolition if I so chose to do so without paying them money that I do not have because everything I had is in that property and in that home that burnt because code enforcement didn’t do their job,” Jessup said.
Mayor Dee Jenkins confirmed with staff that she could open the session for further public comment but that it would be a deviation from usual procedures.
Councilwoman Wendy Escoffier inquired about whether the property owner would be eligible for assistance including Habitat for Humanity; town staff replied that once the house was demolished, there would be opportunities to construct a new building for housing on the site.
“It is the professional opinion of the building official that the property is a danger to health, life and safety?” Councilman Robert Foreman asked.
“Yes,” Fisher replied.
“I don’t want to do this, but I understand the responsibilities of the building official and I understand what sometimes has to be done,” Foreman said.
