The city will remove at least 14 dilapidated houses and monitor the progress on 14 others in a move to clean up properties that are a menace to the public health and safety of the community.

The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen held a public hearing recently to discuss the city’s property clean up list for fall 2016.

Building inspector David Fern said if the board agrees and there is no objection or contact from the owner, the properties on the list will be cleaned up using the city’s equipment and manpower.

After the property is cleaned up, the city sends the property owner a bill, Fearn said.

“If you don’t pay that bill, we’ll put a 25 percent penalty on it,” Fearn said. “If that’s not paid, then we’ll put a lien against the property. If you ever sell the property, whoever buys it will have to pay that. That’s how this whole process works.”

Fearn said most of the houses can be removed from the properties for $600 to $800. Payment plans are available, according to city clerk Mike Jinks.

“That includes everything,” Fearn said. “That’s bringing in the equipment, knocking it down, cleaning it up and taking it away.”

The city street department will begin cleaning these properties in September, Fearn said.

Below is a list of the properties and the action that will be taken on each:

• 724 ½ Swalm Ave. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 609 E. Washington St. (Vacant lot next to the 611 house) — Owner agreed to bush hog and clean the property within the next two months.

• 517 ½ Turner St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 408 J.W. Morgan Way — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 328 S. Martin Luther King Jr. — Owner requested time to clean the house up. Fearn will monitor the owner’s progress.

• 328 ½ S. Martin Luther King Jr. — Owner refused the removal of the house. Fearn will monitor the owner’s progress.

• 902 Ole Brook Road — Owner requested time to fix the house. Fearn will monitor the owner’s progress.

• 1110 Ole Brook Road — Fearn could not get in touch with owner. City will proceed with the removal of the house.

• 118 E. Warren Ave. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 707 Swalm Ave. — Fearn removed the property from the list. Bethel AME Church uses the house as a food pantry.

• 107 West Chickasaw — Fearn removed the property from the list. Owner agreed to clean up the property. Fearn will continue to monitor.

• 1804 N. Jackson St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 1710 Hwy. 51 N. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 1225 Washington Ave. — Fearn removed the property from the list. The owner has made progress in cleaning it up. Fearn will monitor.

• 720 Middleton St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 100 Poplar St. — Fearn removed the property from the list. Owner agreed to clean up the property. Fearn will monitor.

• 104 Poplar St. — Fearn removed the property from the list. Owner agreed to clean up the property. Fearn will monitor.

• 430 N. Martin Luther King — The house will be removed.

• 311 N. Martin Luther King — Fearn could not get in touch with owner. The city will proceed with the removal of the house.

• 981 E. Monticello St. — Owner is dead. The city will clean up around the house.

• 762 Zetus Road — Fearn removed the property from the list. Owners already removed house.

• 906 E. Independence St. — Fearn could not get in touch with owner. City will proceed with the removal of the house.

• 424 Liberty St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.

• 507 Vanzie St. (Vacant lot) — The city will bush hog and clean up the property.

• 500 E. Monticello St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the two-story house, but requested Fearn walk through the other structure on the property to determine if it needs to be removed.

• 215 Railroad St. — Fearn could not get in touch with owner. The city will proceed with the removal of the structure. Residents of a neighboring property were present to voice their concerns about the dangerous property.

• 802 S. Second St. — Owner requested time to clean the house up. Fearn will monitor the owner’s progress.

• 611 E. Washington St. — Owner agreed to the removal of the house.