County to sell ‘eyesore’ home for $1

The county purchased the 1,225 square foot home located at 1915 West 10th St. in 1999 for $95,000 to secure the property in order to extend the county’s real holdings on West 10th Street, which includes Kramer Fields, and rent it out to recover the purchase price.

However, net for the house after rental income, $13,252 in property taxes and $7,789 in maintenance costs is minus $7,961.

The county had the same renter until last year and now costly repairs need to be made to get the home up to current rental state standards.

Facilities Operations Manager Fred Davis estimated that the exterior paint alone would cost between $9,000 and $10,000. In total, recommended repairs would cost $24,435.

“If we’re going to have to put considerable money, I’d rather not do that,” said Wasco County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone during last Wednesday’s commissioners meeting.

Demolishing the house would also be expensive — Davis estimated between $8,000 and $10,000.

The Mid-Columbia Housing Authority/Columbia Housing Corporation currently offers no options other than donating the property. The county could also market the house as a unit to be moved to another site by the buyer and then clear the lot. Leaving the building empty presents the challenge of security risks like vandalism, break-in, fire and just degradation due to lack of use.

“On the plus side for the community, The Dalles is short of properties like this,” Davis said.

The commissioners agreed to move on with talks with Emmert contingent upon legal counsel.

If the house is removed, the county would maintain the property as an empty lot.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Commission Chair Scott Hege said. “There’s no real downside to it. To me it’s a no brainer and we should proceed.”