Clockwise for top left, Council Vice Chair James Robinson, Councilors David Izraelevitz and Sean Williams, Council Chair Randall Ryti, Councilor Denise Derkacs, County Attorney Alvin Leaphart and Attorney Karl Sommer attend Friday’s special council meeting on Zoom. LADP/screenshot
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The resolution condemning the former Hilltop House Hotel building as a hazard to public health and safety as well as ordering that it be demolished was upheld 6-0 Friday afternoon during a special Los Alamos County Council meeting on Zoom.
Councilor Sara Scott was absent.
The resolution requires the building be demolished by March 30, 2022.
Council originally passed the resolution Oct. 29 during a special meeting. In response, Attorney Karl Sommer of Sommer Karnes and Associates LLP, who represents the building’s owner, New Mexico Innovation Triangle, LLC, entered an appeal for the resolution.
The appeal wasn’t to reverse the decision to demolish the building but rather seek clarification.
Sommers asked that the resolution be modified to include deadlines for interim steps for demolishing the building. For instance, he said that the removal of combustibles from the building is expected to be done by the end of the first week in January 2022.
Another point of contention is erecting an 8-foot security fence around the property. Sommers and a representative of New Mexico Innovation Triangle, LLC voiced concern and asked whether it would be possible to construct a fence that is 8-feet tall in some sections and 6-feet tall in others. They added that the fence is expected to be installed by next week.
Los Alamos County Fire Marshall Wendy Servey said she recommended an eight-foot-tall fence for safety reasons.
After a closed session, which lasted about an hour, council returned and made the motion to uphold the resolution. Additionally, Council Chair Randall Ryti made a few remarks. The first comment was that the clean and lien Council resolution was not being contested, the second being that aspects of the Fire Marshall order were being contested but the Fire Marshall demonstrated she was willing to work with the building’s owners. Ryti’s final remark was that council support the Fire Marshall’s recommendations regarding the building and said he was disturbed that her recommendations were not being followed.
Sommer emphasized that the buildings owners were serious about complying with the resolution.
“… it is our intention to get this work done … we understand the seriousness in getting this done,” he said. “And my clients are taking steps … and getting it done as quickly and efficiently as possible …”
