Boetsma said he believes the property he owns at 219 Emma St. could meet code standards on Oct. 15, 2012, with plans to make it “weather tight” and “animal resistant” by Dec. 15 this year. The current interior plaster, he says, will be torn down by Feb. 15, 2012 and the drywall should be installed by Sept. 12.

If any of those dates are not met, the board agreed they could resume with their plans for demolition.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie recommended Michigan City Code Enforcement Officer Russ Hatfield obtain quotes for the cost of demolition before Boetsma would be required to post a similar amount as a “performance bond.”

“That way, no tax dollars will be used for demolition if Mr. Boetsma’s timetable is not met,” Hatfield said.

During a recent inspection of the house, Hatfield noted that areas of the roof are in “poor shape,” with “holes and cracks in the walls and ceilings.”

The lack of water service and disconnected electricity were also reported by Hatfield, who first issued orders of repair in 2007.

Vera Foster, a resident in the vicinity of the Boetsma home, spoke of the dangers the home’s deterioration and raccoon infestation have caused for her dog.

“Please do not let (anything) happen to my dog,” Foster told the board. “If Larry can get it fixed, that’s fine. If he can’t, please get that house out of the neighborhood.”

While citing the lack of employment and family health issues as reasons he could not improve the house in 2007, Boetsma says he is ready now.

“I would like to save this house,” he said. “I feel I have a handle on this and can run with it.”