The Ross Township supervisors continued their discussion of demolishing a dangerous structure during their meeting Monday evening.

The house at 1123 Pine Cone Court was damaged more than six years ago by a fire. Garbage and old cars are piled up outside, as well.

The property was abandoned by its owners a long time ago. The man is reportedly incarcerated; however, supervisors have not been able to find his name on any prison roster. The female is deceased.

“It’s a complicated issue,” Chairman Jim Zahoroiko said to his colleagues and residents in attendance.

The house is unfixable and unsafe.

Supervisors recently learned how much it would cost to level the eyesore.

“It would cost the township just under $15,000 to demolish and take away the dumpsters of debris,” said Vice Chairman David Shay. “But it would not include taking away any of the vehicles. The basement would be left intact.”

Orange safety fence would have to be put around the perimeter of the basement, the supervisors noted.

A resident asked if the township could face any potential repercussions, such as a lawsuit, if they demolished the house.

There are two liens against the home.

“It’s possible we could be sued, but we have taken the right measures,” said solicitor Eric Filer.

Those measures include a public hearing the township held in December 2024; the establishment of the township’s dangerous structures ordinance last year; and multiple letters sent to the homeowners, which have bounced back to the township.

Shay said they are looking into funds from Monroe County to help with demolition costs.

“Let’s see what answer we get from county until next month,” he said.

It has been noted many times that the process leading up to demolition day will be a lengthy one that involves many moving pieces, said the supervisors and solicitor.

Later in the meeting, the three supervisors voted to move forward with the culvert project on Mount Eaton Road.

“We received a $170,000 grant through the LSA (Local Share Account) process to install the culvert,” Shay said. “Our road crew installed the other one on Ross Road and did a great job.”

Since this is on the state bid program, supervisors do not need to go through the bid process, which includes advertising the project and opening bids during a supervisors meeting, Shay said.

“We hope to receive the structure, which costs $44,715, by May and have the project done before school resumes in late August,” he said.

In other business:

• The township office will be closed on Presidents Day, Feb. 17.

• The Ross Township Historical Society Museum will be open Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge to visit the museum. Former Ross residents Dorris and Ed Curry donated five display cases recently to the museum. Historical society members are planning a reenactment event for September. They are also participating in a committee at the county level to help plan the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• Supervisors voted 3-0 to adopt a resolution that adds three parcels of land owned by Jodie and Andrew Kirk to the Agricultural Security Act. The three parcels total about 90 acres.

• Supervisors asked road foreman Ethan Brewer to start a list of roads for summer roadwork and to bring the list to the March meeting for discussion. Roadwork money comes from liquid fuel funds and from the township’s annual budget.

• Supervisors accepted a $98,000 bid for work to be done on a truck they ordered two months ago. The work includes bodywork and hydraulics.