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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

The Harlan City Council has given a warning to some property owners within the city.

Mayor Danny Howard advised the council during a meeting on Monday that signs informing the public that the property violates city ordinances had been placed on several properties.

“The signs that we showed you at the last meeting, James and myself and the chief (Harlan Police Chief Mike Thomas) went to four locations,” said Howard. “We had the signs, nailed them up, and looked inside the properties”

Howard explained one of the properties was in particularly bad shape.

“The Morton house, we put one on that,” said Howard. “It’s boarded up and falling in.”

According to Howard they had been to five properties and had spoken to one of the property owners .

“We did one and the guy who had bought the house called me and he said that he had been sick, but he was going to do something with that house,” said Howard. “I said what we want to prevent is your neighbor’s houses burning down. If it catches fire there’s a possibility that it could burn your neighbors house. I’m sure you want to be a good neighbor too and so this is our concern.”

Howard reported he had given the owner some direction on what needed to be done to the property.

“Number one, the house is not secured. It needs to be secured so that people can’t get in. These are the things you need to get started on. He said he was going to put a roof on it. I said I’d rather you either board or repair the windows to prevent people from getting into it. That way we can watch it and help keep vandals out,” stated Howard.

Council member Croley Forester inquired if there was any evidence of people residing in the houses.

“Not that one,” responded Howard. “There was a lot of furniture in one.”

Harlan Police Chief Mike Thomas explained one house had the appearance that people were in the process of moving out.

“One of the neighbors said the people had been coming in and out and taking things like they were in the process and taking a long time moving out,” said Thomas.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com