A Macswoods resident wants the city to do something about two abandoned houses in the subdivision.

The issue has been discussed at least once before by city officials before the Washington City Council.

Sheila J. Svela, who lives on Camelia Drive, told the council, during its Nov. 14 meeting, the boarded-up houses bother her. “Since we moved here, there were several houses that appeared to be abandoned. I have spoken with you code (enforcement) officer and after calls back and forth, we were finally able to get the lawn mowed,” Svela said. “I went in, after reading the ordinance, and found out that, unfortunately, not all of the ordinance was being applied, just the portion about the 18 inches of grass height before anything can be done. That really isn’t acceptable. The house in question … has been abandoned for well over 25 years. The windows are boarded up. I have to see this morning and night, every time I go in and out of the neighborhood.”

Svela left photographs and a document related to break-ins at the two abandoned houses with the council. She said a petition with the signatures of 35 people was submitted to city officials “to do something about these houses.” The city has not responded to the petition, except for the grassing being mowed, she said.

Mayor Mac Hodges told Svela the two houses are on a list of residences the city is working to be brought up to building and safety codes. “We’ve got about 30 identified houses and about 15 we are working on,” Hodges said.

City Manager Bobby Roberson said it’s difficult for city employees to enter a house that is boarded up, in part because they would need permission from the owner to enter the houses. The city is finding it difficult to identify and locate such owners, Roberson noted.

The city would appreciated any help, including assistance from Macswoods residents, in locating such owners so they can be notified to do something to bring their properties up to codes, Roberson said. “There’s a special proceeding we have to go through. We’re willing to do that,” Roberson noting that the process can be expensive because of legal fees.

Councilman Doug Mercer said there might be someone willing to acquire the houses and repair them. “I know of at least one private individual that is pursuing the purchase of those two structures,” he said.

“Beautiful,” replied Svela. “That would be wonderful.”