By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — There are a few buildings in the Town of Casco that are so dilapidated, they have become a potential hazard to the public.

While public safety is foremost on the minds of the local selectmen, it is a long, drawn-out process that must happen before the hazard can be eliminated. 

The Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday evening took another step toward the process of disposing of the hazardous buildings.  

The board voted, 4-0, to schedule a public hearing for two dangerous buildings on Nov. 30, which is a Tuesday. The hearing will be held during the selectmen’s meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. 

One structure is located off Route 11. The address is 1358 Poland Springs Rd. It is owned by Louis Grubb, Jr., who lives in Falmouth. 

The other building is on Route 302. The address is 388 Roosevelt Trail. It is owned by David and Annette Krueger who live in Windham. 

The purpose of the public hearing is to give the owners or other parties the opportunity to show an interest in the future of the buildings. 

Also, during the hearing, the board will determine whether or not the building falls into the definition of a nuisance or dangerous. Then, the board will decide whether or not to dispose of it. 

Legally, the town can recoup the cost of demolishing the building and any legal fees by putting a lien on the property. 

After the board voted to go forward with the public hearing, Selectman Scott Avery spoke. 

“When this goes through and everything gets done with these properties, we should somehow be identifying these buildings with a big red X on the building,” he said. “If we have mutual aid call on one of those building, they need to know it is dangerous. It is good to know that we can mark those buildings to make people aware that they are dangerous, the condition that they are in.”

“A lot of towns just do a large red X on the side of the buildings facing toward the road,” Avery said.