The owners should have stepped up right away to take care of this mess. The city is only doing what they did not. I think the city should take care of this mess and send the bill to the slacker owners

I think the city is hasty in this particular decision. $62K PLUS additional expenses should not be used on private property. Set a firm deadline before taking an action as serious as this, then take legal action, in court. I question the intent of this decision, could it be the city is setting a precedence for future take over of private property. That concerns me. Was this done to hurry along plans to upgrade a park in the nearby area. For 50 years it wasn't a concern, but now it's lightening rod hurry. The land owner should have be 100% responsible to taking care of his sorely used property. He collected rent fees for decades and should have been fined many years worth for unsafe conditions by the city...and maybe he was, but it's not coming out in any of the articles I'm reading. This one is worth watching.

Sandra,
It helps to put this article in the context of previous ones like this:

http://newportrichey.patch.com/articles/walden-pond-owners-given-chance-to-clean-up-property

See also: http://newportrichey.patch.com/articles/collapsing-trailers-raise-safety-concerns-at-walden-pond

Concerned Pasco County CItizen
This is very alarming. I am a 15 year Pasco county resident. My children go to school here. My business is here. Why is the county spending my tax dollars on something the owners are obviously trying to complete. Due diligence takes time. While maybe the park could have been cleaned up faster, let the business ( owners ) pay for it. Please give us as taxpayers a historical record on when, if ever, these judgements are paid back. We have prostitution running rampant. Our jails are overflowing. Our courts our underfunded. Our schools are in desparate need of money. Why waste my dollars? Next were going to be paying the owners back, in a large settlement, wasting even more of my tax dollars.

It had to be done. The owners were into delaying tactics and the council took the high road, knowing that our city depends on the council to protect it's citizens and environment. Thanks for your courage, Nancy

I agree. Regardless of what has happened thus far, the use of public funds on a private matter is utterly rediculous. The use of media to create chaos is what is causing the city to feel it is necessary to do this. Isay back off and let waldon handle this at their own time and expense. No one cared when the tenants there did drugs and prostituted. No one cared about the crime before. But now everyone is in an uproar over people that refuse to help themselves because of a storm. There is much more to this story than what the media is painting I am certain of that. Don't believe everything you read Rob Marlowe.

Don't forget. It was election time. City officials needed to be looked at as 'saving the community'. There is always a motive behind this because city officials are easy targets for future developers. They don't care, because it's not their money that's being spent, but the hard-working tax-payer's.

Thank you Mr Marlowe for the attached articles. I did read them, but they are incomplete, such as timeline when this began. Although I appreciate the articles, no one is addressing the fact why taxpayers money is being used on private property. I would only guess that $62K+ is just the tip of the iceberg on this story. Perhaps you can have council members join in on discussions to help us understand their intent and reasoning. I plead my case again, the land owner should be 100% responsible. Another good point brought up about providing "a historical record on when, if ever, these judgements are paid back". These are the important factors to this story. I don't think the citizens are going to let go of this one very easily and more specifics are needed. Thank you.

I'm talking about scoring points for the parties involved in light of the presidential elections, which they will collect on in future. Neverthess, it was still misappropriation of public funds.

It's difficult to have a full discussion here due to Sunshine issues. Minutes of previous council meetings are in the public record and available online. The council only acted after giving the property owner an opportunity to deal with the situation. It is safe to say that the city intends to hold the land owner fully responsible for the cost of cleaning things up. The taxpayers should NOT be left holding the bag for cleaning up private property.