Robert Thorberg's attempt to save his Mandan home was too little and too late as the city commission set in motion events that will culminate in Thorberg's eviction and demolition of his domicile.

Boehm Salvage was awarded demolition of 405 6th Ave. NW for $7,500 at Tuesday's commission meeting. Demolition of the structure in which Thorberg resides was ordered at the June 5 meeting of the commission.

More than a year ago, responding to neighbor's complaints, city assessor Richard Barta visited Thorberg's home, only to find it bad disrepair. Thorberg was requested to do exterior work, including shingling, re-siding, replacing gutters and moving a dog run. During the course of the year, only an attempt at shingling was made.

The interior was also in bad shape, according to Barta, with walls down to the studs, the upstairs bathroom unusable and the downstairs bathroom also in bad shape. Visits were made by the fire department, police department and Social Services. There are concerns about the sanitary conditions. Neighbors complained of odors emanating from the property and the unkempt yard.

A letter was sent to Thorberg, hand-delivered by the police, that the city commission was considering taking action and asked him to come to a commission meeting to discuss the situation. Twice Thorberg failed to appear.

Attorney Ben Pulkrabek and Thorberg were in attendance at Tuesday's meeting. Pulkrabek provided a proposal in which Thorberg would finish the shingling, re-side and put new gutters on the home as well as moving the dog kennel by the end of July. Commissioners were skeptical, asking why Thorberg had waited so long to reply and whether the $1,300 that was going to be spent to fix the home was adequate.

Pulkrabek said that fixing the house earlier would likely have resulted in its repossession by the bank. The attorney was able to work out an agreement with the bank to allow fixing the home and Thorberg to remain living there.

"I've been by that house every day for a number of years, and it's just my opinion, that there is no way $1,300 will fix that house. … It can't," Mayor Ken LaMont said. "The sanitary condition leaves a lot to be desired. It's a neighborhood issue. I hate to do this, but this is an issue that we have asked for quite a while to be addressed, and it hasn't been done."

Thorberg said he had only gotten one notice and since he had seen Barta a year ago, the assessor had never made an attempt to see him face-to-face.

"I'm willing to do anything," Thorberg said. "Put on the siding, move the kennels …"

"Why didn't you do this before?" LaMont asked.

"I didn't have the money. Without having the money you can't do much. I've gotten the money put together," Thorberg said. "We will do the outside best we can. I'm trying to address the inside now."

Commissioner Sandra Tibke asked Barta that, if the exterior work had been done a year ago, would it have been enough for Thorberg to stay in his home. Barta replied yes, but added that his recommendation now was to tear it down.

"If I wasn't concerned about him (Thorberg) being homeless, it would have been torn down a long time ago," Barta said. "But he's had sufficient time, and something has to be done."

Susan Beehler said she has concerns that the commission was setting a precedent and that there are other homes in similar shape that would have to come down. She asked the commission to hold off on demolition, review city ordinances and draft a maintenance ordinance that would provide Barta with a set of procedures rather than first moving to demolition. Beehler asked how the situation could go on so long and no agencies were providing help.

"I've gone to every program available," Thorberg said. "Community Action was the only one that would talk to me. They are so far extended, they're looking at October, that I didn't think that was feasible. I went to some friends and got the money I needed. The house can be brought back, though the inside can't be done immediately."

It was pointed out that Thorberg is a veteran receiving a pension. Pulkrabek said he felt Thorberg should be able to keep up with the payments being requested by the bank.

"It's going to take more than vinyl siding," LaMont said. "For what it's worth, he is not going to be homeless. He's a veteran. He can be taken care of; we can follow through on that with Social Services."

Commission Dan Ulmer made the motion to award demolition.

"The part that troubles me, it's been a year and this is the third meeting in a row you (Thorberg) have been asked to appear," Ulmer said.

"Why are you coming in at the last minute? More than that, there are all sorts of problems, the yard. You can put this patch in place, but the next piece comes along, and you're not going to do it."

The motion was approved on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Tim Helbling absent. Tibke and LaMont later said it was among the hardest votes they ever had to make.

Attorney Malcolm Brown will now put together the findings of the assessor, and Thorberg will be served with eviction papers through the district court. Thorberg will be able to appeal the order. Brown is uncertain how long the process will take.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)