McMinnville officials are considering a measure that might help families with the dream of homeownership.
A meth house formerly located at 131 Higginbotham Road has been removed and city Building and Grounds Committee members Steve Harvey, Ryle Chastain and Kate Alsbrook met to consider gifting the land to Warren County Habitat for Humanity.
“The house has been demoed,” said McMinnville Planning and Zoning director Nolan Ming. “We received a certificate of fitness from the contractor. We are ready to do a quitclaim deed to Habitat, if this committee approves.”
The house cost city taxpayers $18,600 to remove due to it being used in the production of methamphetamine and quarantined by McMinnville Police Department. Prior to that, it was vacant for years and its owner(s) allowed it to deteriorate into an unsafe condition. City officials discussed for years what to do about the situation.
A certificate of fitness is a document issued to a property owner certifying that a drug lab property was assessed and decontaminated as necessary according to Department of Human Service rules. It indicates the property is fit for occupancy.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with families in need to build simple, decent homes that are sold at no profit through no-interest loans. Funds, building materials, and labor are donated by individuals, churches, corporations, and other organizations who share the goal of eliminating substandard housing.
City attorney Tim Pirtle recommended the city pay for a survey to clarify a vague property line. 
“We are going to need to get that property surveyed,” said Pirtle. “The reason being is there is a lousy description of the property of record as far back as you can take the title and I ran it back to the beginning of time. It will probably cost somewhere around $400 to $500 but we need that property survey for Habitat, as well as the future owners and their neighbors.”
Committee members unanimously approved the survey and sent a recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen the land be donated to Warren County Habitat for Humanity.