Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams The building at 101 E. Green Bay St. in downtown Bonduel could face demolition if the landlord does not cooperate with village attempts to make repairs.
The owner of a troubled downtown Bonduel building failed to show up for a fire department inspection of the property, village officials say.
Building owner Keith Block said he was never told about the inspection, but village officials said he received notice two weeks in advance.
The village is trying to determine if the deteriorated structure at 101 E. Green Bay St. can be salvaged, or if the village should move toward demolition.
Village President Sharon Wussow said officials will next seek a court-ordered warrant to gain access to the building for an inspection with or without Block’s involvement.
“That’s the only way we can do it, since he is not cooperating,” Wussow said.
Contacted by telephone, Block said he received no notice of the inspection, and he blamed Bonduel village leaders for not communicating with him.
“I would be thrilled to cooperate with them if we had some communication,” he said.
The property, located in the center of Bonduel’s downtown business district, has vacant storefronts on the first floor and vacant apartments upstairs. Village officials believe the structure could be unstable and that it needs repairs for broken masonry, water leaks and moldy conditions.
Block also owns the Wisconsin House Inn hotel in Shawano, which is at the center of a similar dispute between the landlord and Shawano city officials.
Over the years, the downtown Bonduel property has housed an ice cream shop, a sporting goods store and other attractions.
The Bonduel fire department attempted to conduct an inspection of the building on Friday, but officials said Block failed to show up for the appointment. The village released a copy of an Oct. 9 certified letter notifying Block of the planned inspection.
The village then sent the property owner another certified letter notifying him of their intent to seek a warrant to inspect the property.
Wussow said officials are holding out hope that the building can be salvaged and restored. But if Block refuses to cooperate or if the repairs are too costly, the village might have no choice but to proceed toward demolition, Wussow said.
“Hopefully it doesn’t have to go to that,” she said, “because it is a nice old building for the community.”