Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The possible tear-down of Uniontown’s “pigeon house” is on hold as the town awaits review of a bid by Roach Construction of Genesee.
Originally bidding $7,500 in 2014, the town approached the company again in July to ask if they would re-evaluate it and re-submit for 2017.
Representatives of Roach came to Uniontown last week and met with town Building Inspector Brent Lane.
The town now awaits word. Once it arrives, Uniontown Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Devorak will contact the pigeon house property owners, who live in Oregon.
“We’ll see what we can work out,” Devorak said. “It is a very big health issue.”
Pigeons are a concern because of potential spread of disease. The issue is not the birds themselves but the droppings inside the house and fungus that grows in turn.
The potential deal Devorak refers to would be for the town to pay for the tear-down, removal and clean-up. Whoever buys the property would reimburse the town. The owners have previously listed it for sale.
The current owners may add the tear-down cost to the asking price.
“The town is willing to pay for it, and whoever buys it, whenever, they’ll have to pay us full-price,” said Devorak.
The property is made up of two lots; one commercial in front and one residential behind.
Vacant for more than 10 years, its owner, Margaret Huggins, has listed the abandoned house behind Uniontown City Hall for sale in the past.
Gathered pigeons are seen perched and flying near the house, which sits on a slope just behind city hall. An old piano remains on the front porch.
Inches of pigeon manure cover the lower level. Former town building inspector Marv Entel got the original estimate for the tear-down work three years ago while he was still the building inspector.
Lane, the town’s new inspector, contacted Roach to ask if they would honor their 2014 proposals, perhaps with some adjustment.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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