City tries to resolve Bud Hankal issues

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Indicating it was the right thing to do, city leaders have taken the first steps to make things right with George “Bud” Hankal’s heirs.

Hankal’s sons appeared before members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen last month to request they release a lien placed on a Walnut Street property. City leaders voted unanimously on first reading to resolve the dispute Monday.

The lien of $1,937 had been placed upon the property after the city declared it unfit and removed 24 dump trucks worth of “junk” and replaced 17 truck loads of dirt there in 1996. City officials said the property was “in the care of” Hankal at the time.

City leaders said Monday the main reason for their decision was because the heirs are working to clean up more than 30 of their late father’s properties.

They also noted they already have possession of two trailers removed from the Walnut Street property that sons Stan, David and Paul Hankal offered not to lay claim to at last month’s meeting in return for dismissing the lien.

City Attorney James Dempster said a title for the semi-trailers could not be established and said another person actually is the one who should release claims to them, but noted the heirs will sign a release to the city waiving any right they have to them.

“Even though this may not be an ideal solution,” Vice Mayor Patti Nunley said, “it does reflect some good will on their part trying to clean it up and perhaps we should reward them with this release just because they’re making that effort.”

Alderman Donald Hillis also noted the son’s efforts in relation to releasing the lien.

“It was my understanding that there are approximately 30 pieces involved in this, and if they clean it all up, that’s worth a lot,” he added.

The ordinance notes Hankal claimed he “was the true and lawful owner” of the property at 106 Walnut Street and authorizes the city to show the lien as being satisfied by settlement and that Hankal’s heirs would release “any and all claims that they have against the city of McMinnville.”