OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The former Pawn Starz building on Route 20 has been in a state of disrepair since it burned down in the summer of 2022.

SHERIDAN — The former Pawn Starz property in the Town of Sheridan along Route 20 was recently sold, but so far, there has not been any noticeable improvements made to the site.

The Pawn Starz site was destroyed in a fire in the summer of 2022. Over the past two years, the previous owner of the property, James L. Langendorfer, has not cleaned up the mess, despite the Town’s best efforts.

The Town Board retained attorney Joe Calimeri to file a complaint against Langendorfer in New York State Supreme Court to enforce the State’s Uniform Fire Protection and Building Code and Local Zoning Laws. The action calls for the property to be made in compliance with codes, ordinances and laws of the Town of Sheridan and the State of New York.

Shortly after that action was taken, the property was sold, but the mess remains. The Town is hopeful that a new owner will be more receptive to cleaning up the site.

Unsafe structure and nuisance citations were issued to the property by Code Enforcement Officer James Crowell at the direction of the Town Board. The new owner, Nathan Strawder, was given until Dec. 1 to respond. After approximately a week, no response had yet been received by the Town at its recent meeting.

In terms of code enforcement throughout the Town in the month of October, eight permit applications were submitted, four notices of violation were issued, and 24 certificates of occupancy and compliance were issued.

In the month of October, the Town Clerk’s office collected $231.50, of which $202.50 was turned over to the General Fund and $29 was sent to the State Department of Agriculture and Markets for dog licenses.

The Town also approved an agreement with Auctions International to sell items declared as surplus. At the recent meeting, the Town declared a Yellow Sterling, Mack tandem axle, an old V sander, and a stack of extra insulation from the roof as surplus.

The Town will also be seeking qualified applicants to fill a vacancy in the Highway Department after an employee recently resigned. Additionally, the Town of Pomfret will be replacing a vacancy with CBI.

A workshop will be on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m., at which point the Town anticipates opening the bids for improvements to the Sheridan Community Center.

The next meeting of the Sheridan Town Board is Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Sheridan Community Center.