LIVERMORE FALLS — A house that has sparked some controversy will be demolished and the debris properly disposed of, said owner Kenny Jacques, a resident of the town and a selectman.

Initially the building was to be demolished and debris burned, but according to state law, an asbestos inspection would need to be done first, Jacques said.

Since the building is a single-family home, it can be demolished and debris hauled away without an inspection, he said.

There is no asbestos in the building, according to Jacques.

Jacques had recused himself from the board March 4 and sat in the audience during the opening of three bids for 96 Depot St. The property was acquired by the town for back taxes and other fees that amounted to more than $4,000.

Jacques had written in his bid of $1,000 that he would have the house demolished within 60 days but would keep the barn on about one-quarter acre of land. He believes the other selectmen are tired of having properties go out to bid and then be foreclosed on in a few years, he said.

Code Enforcement Officer James Butler Jr. had looked at the property prior to the bids being opened and submitted a written report to selectmen that it was unsafe and he considered it a dangerous building.

The board accepted Jacques’ bid over two others for $6,500 and $1,200 because the building was to be demolished at no expense to the town.

The town has spent more than $30,000 in the past five years to remove dangerous buildings.

“I did what I thought was best for the property,” Jacques said Tuesday. “The property was in rough shape.”

An accidental fire destroyed a section of the home in 2007. Then fire Chief Ken Jones said the fire likely started in a clothes dryer. A puppy perished in the blaze.

The fire destroyed a one-story section of the house that contained a laundry room, bathroom and spare room, Jones previously said. The two-story section of the house had heavy smoke and water damage.

Some townspeople, including the high bidder, are upset the high bid was not accepted and the property was given to the low bidder.

Jacques’ family has been getting backlash over him being awarded the bid, he said.

Jacques believes he his being unfairly targeted because he is a selectman. There was other property that went for less than what was owed on taxes, he said.

As the ice was melting Monday, he said there were four or five leaks in the kitchen. There was mold on the sheetrock and in some places, a person could see through to the outside.

The foundation was buckling in about 8 inches, he said, and the sills were rotting.

A $5,000 or $10,000 investment in the property would not have fixed it up, he said.

He gave a hot tub that had not been used in years to a person who was going to use it for bait fish, he said.

“I gave it to whoever would haul it away,” Jacques said.

There was some bathroom board, some floor tiles and a toilet in the building. What could be salvaged was given away, he said.

“I haven’t profited on this,” he said.

There was no collusion in the bidding and he was surprised his bid was accepted, he said.

He has to pay to have the demolition hauled to Norridgewock.

The foundation hole will be filled in and the land seeded, he said.

“I’m going to try and fix up the barn and start paying taxes on it,” he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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