One can imagine a situation in which a poor person lets his or her house fall into a dilapidated state, thus making it a hazard and eyesore in a community. Should the city that person lives in then take action to have the house condemned? We suspect it is more likely a city would try to get the homeowner some help, perhaps through a housing rehabilitation grant. Or through the assistance of civic groups.

We believe, however, there is a distinction between the imagined scenario above and the one now facing the city of Fairmont. The city is dealing with an absentee property owner who has two (empty) houses that are crumbling. If the owner doesn’t do something to address the hazards — rotting roofs, crumbling foundations, rotting walls, etc. — the city plans to demolish the houses and charge the owner for the expense. This seems reasonable.