By Ron Brown
 
May 27, 2009
 
GLENDALE, Ore. - Wednesday marks the one year anniversary of a large fire that nearly destroyed the Glendale's business district.
 
Although, a year later, the debris is proving difficult to remove. The fire destroyed an old warehouse, shop and service station in the middle of downtown Glendale. It took an estimated 300,000 gallons of water to put the fire out. City and Douglas County officials are still trying to get Owner Paul Walker to either clean up the mess, or give the property to the county so public money can be spent to get rid of the debris.
 
"If he (Paul Walker) doesn't want any part of the building, then give it up. Then we could move forward to clean this up and to put the property back on the market and recoup the funds that we've already lost just trying to cope with the problem," says Glendale Public Works Director Ned Dausel.
 
"It's been there long enough and this town doesn't need to have to look at it all the time," says Restaurant Owner Bobby Johnson.
 
The Department of Environmental Quality says it's also been trying to get Walker to remove in-ground fuel tanks for almost 15 years. Dausel says a DEQ grant could be made available to get rid of those tanks, which would be necessary to make the land marketable.
 
Dausel says Glendale city officials spent about $1,600 a month for six months to fence off the fire scene. DEQ says it has spent some $8,000 studying the underground tank hazard.