City councilman's home demolished due to damage
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on January 12, 2017 9:35 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/SETH COMBS
A temporarily condemned home located at 317 E Chestnut St. is demolished Monday afternoon by A/K Grading and Demolition Incorporated, a company based in LaGrange.
Full Size
Full SizeGoldsboro Councilman Mark Stevens knows first-hand the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
A house Stevens was living in on East Chestnut Street was demolished this week after the two-story home was condemned due to flood and hurricane damage.
"It was a beautiful home," Stevens said. "It was a sad situation before it went down. It was difficult getting reacclimated again. I lost all my possessions in my home, but I'm rebuilding."
Stevens was renting the house, at 317 E. Chestnut St., where floodwaters damaged his furniture, clothes, food and other personal belongings. The property was temporarily condemned by city inspectors due to hurricane-related damage, said Allen Anderson Jr. Goldsboro chief building inspector.
Stevens, who represents District 3 on the Goldsboro City Council, said he lived in the home several months before the Oct. 8 storm.
"I was there a little bit," Stevens said. "I was just living there. That was me having my own space. I was just renting the home."
Wayne County property tax records show that the house is owned by Thomas Bell. The demolition work was performed by A.K. Grading and Demolition for the owner, according to the city demolition permit, Anderson said. The demolition cost an estimated $9,800.
Crews started tearing down the house Monday -- piece-by-piece -- by removing walls, doors and the roof. By Wednesday morning, the property was cleared and graded.
Stevens, who previously lived on Herman Street, moved to Chestnut in late March or April. After the Chestnut Street property sustained damage and was condemned, he moved back to his previous residence.
"Now, I'm back at North Herman Street," Stevens said.
Both properties, on Herman Street and Chestnut Street, are within the council's District 3, said Dane Beavers, director of the Wayne County Board of Elections.
Even though Stevens may move in the future, he said he plans to remain within District 3.
"I know exactly where my district is," Stevens said. "I'm definitely not going to move out of my district."
Elected officials in local races are required to live within the district they represent, Beavers said. After someone is elected to office, the director is no longer required to monitor where an official lives, and there is no requirement that residential addresses are kept up-to-date at the local Board of Elections office.
"Once you are elected, it is no longer my responsibility to make sure you stay where you live," Beavers said. "After the election is over, it is no longer in my jurisdiction."
The county Board of Elections can investigate residential requirements if a formal complaint is made, Beavers said. No formal residency complaints have been made to the board about any members of the Goldsboro City Council, Beavers said.
Stevens said his move to Chestnut Street was not because of any concern about shots that were fired near his home about a year ago.
After the October hurricane, Stevens applied with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was offered the chance to stay at a local hotel through FEMA's temporary housing assistance program. He turned down the offer, after deciding to return to his previous home on Herman Street.
He did not have any insurance on his personal belongings and is appealing other assistance decisions by FEMA, he said.
"There were a lot of people in that situation," he said. "I have to totally rebuild. It's a work in progress. It's very hard."