The recent sale of 415 Lakeshore Drive could help jumpstart an unsafe building fund for the Town of Culver. The town had to tear down what was left of the former City Tavern building after a fire in October of 2019. The proceeds from last month’s sheriff’s sale will reimburse the town’s demolition costs and other charges.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim told the town council last week that town officials are looking at setting that aside as seed money for mitigation efforts at other properties the town deems unsafe. Ongoing funding would come from similar reimbursements. That would essentially be the money the town puts forward for demolition, since other costs like sewer liens and attorney’s fees would have to be reimbursed directly. A formal ordinance is expected to be presented at next week’s council meeting.
The fire at 415 Lakeshore Drive remains under investigation by a grand jury, and authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a person of interest, Scotty Van Hawk, 50. While there hasn’t been a charge in connection with the fire, Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said last week that the case goes “beyond arson.”
