OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Mayville plans to have 199 Sea Lion Drive torn down within a month.

MAYILLE – After many years and appearances in court, a dilapidated house in the village will soon be torn down.

At the June Mayville Village Board meeting, officials passed a resolution hiring HH Rauh Contracting Co, LLC of Ashville to demolish 199 Sea Drive at a cost of $16,325 and do any required asbestos abatement.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Dan Engdahl said the work will be done “in less than a month.”

In March, the village hired Environmental Air Solutions, LLC of Fredonia to do an asbestos survey for $1,000.

For years, the village has stated that 199 Sea Lion Drive is unsafe and attracts rodents and other wild animals.

The property is owned by Ellen Shepherd of Warren, Pa. It was officially condemned in 2021 and no one has been living there since.

The village has been in and out of court with Shepherd, seeking it to be torn down or repaired.

In June 2024, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling that permitted the village to go and secure the property. That summer, the village spent about $1,000 and boarded it up.

A few days after Judge Grace Hanlon’s ruling, Shepherd filed a motion for reconsideration. Shepherd, who was representing herself in court, said in the motion she answered the complaint within 30 days as requested but had not received an order from the court confirming the court she missed.

Shepherd ended up being successful and a trial was scheduled.

She had the plywood removed but did not have any work done on the structure.

In October of 2025, a non-jury trial took place where Hanlon ruled in favor of the village of Mayville.

She gave Shepherd 30 days from Oct. 15 to apply for a building permit from the village of Mayville and 60 days to begin construction. The judge gave 120 days to complete construction and bring the property into compliance with local and state codes.

Then in January, Shepherd filed a motion seeking a 90-day extension to complete contract negotiations with individuals to provide a plan to repair the property at 199 Sea Lion Drive.

In March the village announced it was moving ahead with the demolition of the property when it authorized the asbestos survey.

Mayor Rick Syper said after the meeting that the owner is responsible for all costs associated with the demolition. If she does not pay the costs, the village will pay for the demolition and place a lien on the property.