Menasha issued its first tornado-related raze order during the week of October 12, according to WTAQ. The city was also processing eight additional orders requested by residents and planned to serve them over the following two weeks. Community Development Director Andrew Dane and his team added staff, including a new inspector, to work through the requests, WTAQ reported.
Dane said the city delayed issuing orders immediately after the storm because residents might still be trying to arrange their affairs and hear back from insurers. An order gives a homeowner 30 days to demolish the structure; if the deadline passes, the city can carry out the demolition and bill the homeowner, according to FOX 11.
For Erica Powell and Mitchell Deniswicz, the city approval is tied to whether their insurer will provide enough money to cover demolition. WTAQ reported that the couple had been waiting for answers from the city and that, after meeting with Dane about an order for their home, they were told it could arrive as soon as Friday. Deniswicz also described the process of contacting officials as frustrating, WTAQ reported.
