Have been trying to gain ownership of 323 Concert St. since 2004
KEOKUK, IA. -- The city of Keokuk is close to winning a battle with a property owner it has been fighting since 2004.
That's when the house at 323 Concert Street was first marked unsafe to occupy and 18 dogs were removed from the home.
Since then four dogs have been put back in, and have only been taken out once in that time.
The property owner didn't pay taxes on the property so it is now in the hands of Lee County, which brings Keokuk one step closer to ending this situation.
"In April, I believe it was April 19th, Lee County did agree to give us the property and deed it over to the city of Keokuk and we're just waiting for that process to go through. The office in Ft. Madison, they are back logged and very busy, so it has not happened yet," said City Code Enforcement Offical Kathy Mahoney.
Mahoney said she is unsure how long that will take.
Once the city has ownership of the property, the dogs will be removed and the house will be torn down.
"My biggest concern is getting the dogs out, right now. But the long term and the biggest concern, is getting the house down. The house smells, it's got to be a big health hazard. The neighbors can smell it, you can smell it when you walk by," said Mahoney.
Mahoney says there have already been some people interested in the property, but nothing is close to final just yet.
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