Council voted today to condemn and demolish the Hilltop House Hotel. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
During a special meeting today, Los Alamos County Council unanimously declared the Hilltop House at 400 Trinity Dr., a menace to public comfort, health, peace and safety. Furthermore, council ordered the removal of the building.
County Manager Steven Lynne explained that the resolution that Council passed was in response to a report made by Los Alamos County Fire Marshall Wendy Servey.
“That report indicates that the Hilltop House is a clear and inimical threat to human life, safety and health and that really is the basis for us moving forward with this process at this time,” Lynne said.
The process the council approved today is aligned with state statute, he added.
Lynne elaborated on the process. He said the owner of the Hilltop House has 10 days to either appeal the action or commence with the building’s removal. If the owners don’t demolish the building than the County has the right to remove it and lien the property.
Santa Fe Attorney Karl Sommer, who represents the owner of the Hilltop House, spoke about the owner’s response to the resolution.
“We intend to address the matter as quickly as we possibly can and keep you informed of our efforts,” he said. “We understand what the concerns of the council and the County are and that they are serious. We don’t take this lightly. We understand that you need to move along so we will keep in touch with your council, do what we can do and see if we can avoid any necessity of action on the part of council in this regard … we intend to act; we’ve run into problems – some of which are beyond our control.”
Sommer added that he is in communication with the County Attorney’s Office.
Councilor Sean Williams said he felt the Fire Marshall’s report was fair and honest and therefore the resolution to condemn the building should be done.
Williams said that a business owner he has had to have fire inspections conducted.
“We always found them (the Fire Marshall’s office) to be fair and reasonable,” he said. “They are not anti-business or anti-development. They, I believe, want business development to happen, they just want it to happen in a safe way.”
In addition to his confidence in Servey and her office, Williams said he was surprised by the magnitude of the problems she uncovered as well as the photo evidence.
Councilor Denise Derkacs also voiced her support to condemn the building.
“The inspection by the County Fire Marshall clearly indicates the Hilltop House poses a public health and safety menace,” she said. “On that basis I fully support this ordinance requiring the demolition of the building. I do hope the current owners will take prompt action to do so as they indicated but if not the County should proceed with action to demolish the building and place a lien on the property.”
Council Chair Randall Ryti agreed, pointing out that the Fire Marshall’s report clearly speaks to the condition of the building.