The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury and town of Welsh are working together to remove a blighted property from a Welsh neighborhood.

The property, located at 315 W. South St. in Welsh, was adjudicated to the two entities after the current property owners failed to pay taxes, according to Welsh Mayor Karl Acreneaux.

Under the adjudication, the parish owns 91 percent of the property with the town owning 9 percent.

The house has been vacant for some time and has fallen into a state of disrepair, he said.

“We had Rodney Richard from Building Code Inspections Services look at it and he recommends condemning and demolish of the property,” Arceneaux said. “It’s an old two story house that has sunk into the ground and it has become blighted property.”

Arceneaux said the roof is damaged, paint is peeling off the structure and boards are missing in spots, including from around the windows.

Many residents have expressed concerns about the deteriorating conditions of the structure, he said.

The Police Jury agreed this week to split the cost of demolishing and removing the structure.

If the cost of removal goes over the Police Jury’s share, the town will pay the remaining costs.

Police Jury President Steve Eastman said even though the property is in the town limits of Welsh, it is partially owned by the Police Jury because it was adjudicated to the parish due to outstanding delinquent taxes.

“In general what we have been doing with it is, the town of Welsh has been tearing the building down and we pay the dumping fee, but this is a two-story house and these guys can’t do it,” Police Jury President Steve Eastman said.

The current property owners have three years to reclaim the property or the property will be sold at a tax sale.