Selectmen seek owner's help in razing gutted house

The house at 147 Champion has still not been razed. (Lebanon Voice file photo)

WEST LEBANON - Selectmen are trying to work with the owner of the Champion Street house that was gutted in a June arson fire to have what’s left of the structure razed as it has become a safety hazard and eyesore to the community.

The home is owned by Kalani McDaniel of St. Petersburg, Fla., who so far has not contacted selectmen since they sent her a letter at the end of July to remind her it is her responsibility to remove what’s left of the structure.

Selectmen have said if McDaniel continues to ignore their requests for compliance, the town can have the building removed and attach a lien of some sort to ensure repayment if and when the property is sold.

Meanwhile, the man arrested in the arson, Tommy Ellis, a transient with ties to Exeter, N.H., and Milton, is scheduled to appear in York County Superior Court in November to face the arson charge.

The house is alleged to have been used as a marijuana growing factory, but Maine DEA agents were only able to secure a small number of plants that could have been used as evidence, reducing any possible charges that could be filed to a misdemeanor level.

So far no drug arrests have been made in the case.