Cloverdale council addresses Main Street barrier issues

As of Friday afternoon, support boards from the barrier erected in front of the Main Street properties in Cloverdale were still spiked into the sidewalk.

Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale Town Council also focused on the damaged buildings on Main Street during its special meeting last Thursday.

Town Attorney Daniel Hofmann stated he had received feedback from the owners of the buildings still being renovated. He said they had “indicated concern” about liens placed on them due to “nonpayment” of the barrier wall which was put up in front of them.

Hofmann said they had requested for those liens to be vacated or forgiven. In turn, he told them the council would be reluctant to do so on account of the “tremendous burden” the town has had concerning them.

Council Vice President Greg Jay professed it was built to protect the public, and that the town should not be held accountable to cover the cost of putting it up. He further said the wall was protecting people from further collapse, adding “they were not repairing” the buildings.

Hofmann said the cost of the barrier was approximately $500 per property owner, and that the total was just over $2,000. Council President Larry Fidler added that the owners had previously agreed to pay the cost.

Jay motioned that the liens on the buildings stand. The council approved the motion unanimously.

Council member Rick Dearwester also provided that 2-by-4s had been left spiked into the sidewalk outside the buildings after the barrier was deconstructed. He said this was a trip hazard, opining that a “wheelchair couldn’t make it up.”

Hofmann said he would reach out to the property owners to have them removed. However, Fidler stated that the contractor that put up the barrier was not the same one that took it down.