CARIBOU, Maine — There’s no mistaking the former Birds Eye building on Route 1 or its dilapidated state, but the Caribou City Council is taking steps to eliminate the eyesore.
City Manager Austin Bleess explained to the council that he’s been working with the site’s owner, Steve Nasiff, for nearly a year trying to get the location cleaned up with little success.
“This property is not only an eye sore, but the buildings and structures on there are dangerous,” he said, stating that it was time for the city to start the legal process to have the site “nuisance abated,” or removed.
The council approved a public hearing to be held on Monday, June 9, during the next regularly-scheduled City Countil meeting, to discuss the property; Bleess explained that following the public hearing, the Council may decide as to whether or not the buildings meet the standards of being dangerous and determine whether or not corrective actions need to be taken.
The full site will be the subject for the June 9 discussion — and received unanimous council support.
The council also agreed to order the clean-up or correction of a failed septic system at Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park on Rt. 89.
“The septic system at Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park has failed — that’s the written opinion of our plumbing inspector,” Bleess said. “It’s a hole in the ground with raw sewage in it that poses a health threat to any person who is present or near the site.”
The council approved an order to the owner, which specifies that the problem must be fixed in 10 days.
“If the owner does not remedy the problem, the city will need to remedy it and assess the cost to the owner through taxation,” the city manager said.
