By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
While the Montague County Commissioners took no action, there was consensus the county has satisfied the legal notice requirements and can take action to abate the unsafe structure on the courthouse square.
County Judge Rick Lewis said Monday was the final day on the 30-day clock when the county posted notice for the abatement process. County Attorney Clay Riddle reviewed the process that began back in December as the county attempted to serve Mark Chancellor with the abatement notice. Then just a few days before the demolition was scheduled the court was notified there was a new owner, Goodfella Cattle represented by Toby Vann.
Erring on the side of legal caution the court began the 30-day notice process again, but Vann refused service and said on Feb. 5 the property had gone back to Chancellor, who was served with the notice in person after he was arrested and placed in the county jail on an unrelated warrant out of Dallas County.
“I think the county has gone above and beyond what was needed,” said Riddle. “Neither party ever requested a hearing and we jumped through all the hoops.” Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.