Medina demolishes two run-down houses

File photo by Tom Rivers – The village of Medina knocked down these two houses on Genesee Street last week. This photo was taken in April.

MEDINA – Two boarded-up houses that have long been eyesores and targets of vandalism were torn down by the village of Medina last week.

“It’s great to see them down and the lots cleared,” Marty Busch, the village code enforcement officer, told the Village Board on Monday.

The houses at 613-615 and 617 Genesee Street have depressed the neighborhood, Busch said.

The village in recent years has been taking down one or two houses a year. Busch said many more should come down because of their poor condition and negative impact on the neighborhood.

Medina Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich said firefighters were able to practice drills and other valuable training on the houses before they were demolished.

Busch said he will soon have a report on the final costs of the demolition.

In other action on Monday:

The board is looking to fill a vacant captain position in the Fire Department. That spot has been open since R.J. Morgan retired about two years ago.

The department typically has two captains who each lead a platoon of six firefighters. Mike Maak, the current senior captain, heads the EMS training and responsibilities. The new captain will help head up the firefighting efforts.

Three internal candidates are seeking the captain’s position. The candidates will all be interviewed Monday by the Village Board, Zinkievich and Maak.

Approved an agreement with the Medina School District allowing the school to use the village’s fueling station. The school district will pay the state contract price per gallon, plus another 5 percent, which will help the village with maintenance and other costs of the fueling station, said Mayor Andrew Meier.

Discussed a letter from Stop Polluting Orleans County, a citizens group in the Albion area that is opposed to more landfill operations in Albion. The group is seeking a resolution from Medina, stating its opposition to another landfill.

Meier said the board will consider the request at an upcoming meeting. The board usually doesn’t weigh in on issues in other communities, but Meier said the Village Board may want to go on the record against another landfill in Albion.

“There would be a significant impact on the quality of life and the truck traffic through our village,” Meier said.