MAYVILLE – A dilapidated house in the village has again been boarded up and may be torn down early next year.

During this week’s Mayville Village Board meeting, Mayor Rick Syper gave an update on 199 Sea Lion Drive.

The house is owned by Ellen Shepherd of Warren and has been an eyesore for several years. It was officially condemned in 2021 and no one has been living there since.

In December 2023, the village took Shepherd to state Supreme Court. At that time they noted there were 16 violations of the state Property Maintenance Code and another five violations of the state Fire Code. Violations included unsafe structures, sanitation, weeds, rodent harborage, exterior and interior structures, foundation walls, doors, and more.

In June 2024 the state Supreme Court issued a ruling that permitted the village to go and secure the property.

That summer, the village spent about $1,000 in plywood and boarded it up.

A few days after Hanlon’s ruling, Shepherd filed a motion for reconsideration. Shepherd, who was representing herself in court, said in the motion she answered the complaint within 30 days as requested but had not received an order from the court confirming the court she missed.

“Plaintiff relies on the good faith of the court for court notices that issue instructions,” Shepherd wrote. “Plaintiff relies on the good faith of the court to count the 30 days and discount Memorial Day as a federal holiday when the court does not conduct business. Instead, the 30 days were counted as calendar days only and plaintiff immediately rejected defendant’s answers to the complaints and returned it to defendant. Defendant is representing herself and relies on the court to give clear directions in writing. Defendant also relies on justice which requires and prays that this motion to reconsider is considered.”

Shepherd ended up being successful and a trial was scheduled.

She had the plywood removed but did not have any work done on the structure.

In October, a non-jury trial took place where state Supreme Court Justice Grace Hanlon ruled in favor of the village of Mayville

She gave Shepherd 30 days from Oct. 15 to apply for a building permit from the village of Mayville and 60 days to begin construction. The judge gave 120 days to complete construction and bring the property into compliance with local and state codes.

“It is further ordered that if there is no compliance with this order by Ellen Shepherd that the court will direct the Village of Mayville to demolish the building and add the cost of demolition to the tax rolls,” Hanlon wrote. “It is further ordered that the village of Mayville, at this time, can secure the building. The cost of securing the building may be added to the tax rolls.”

During the board meeting this week, Syper said Shepherd has not obtained a building permit and can’t get one without proper engineering drawings.

When asked why the village boarded it up a second time, Syper said it’s because of safety reasons.

“There’s no floor in there whatsoever. You can see the ground inside. The front door is wide open,” he said.

Syper said he doubts she can get the work completed by February as ordered by the court. Assuming it doesn’t get done, Syper said they plan to tear down the building and add the cost as a lien on the property.

He said the plan is for the village to do the work themselves and use credits at the county landfill and shared services “to keep the cost down.”

The only exception would be if asbestos is discovered.

Should the house be demolished, Syper said Shepherd will still own the land, as long as she pays her taxes.

Currently Shepherd is two years behind. According to the county tax rolls, she owes $2,627 for 2024 and $2,376 for 2025.

Syper said it’s been a long process to get the property fixed up, but he said village leaders want to send a message that they’re not going to let derelict properties remain in the village.

“You’ve got banks (that own some properties.) If they don’t care of things, we’re going to send them a letter and say ‘this is what happened to this person,'” he said.