Acting as the city's board of health, Butler City Council Thursday night declared a deteriorating retaining wall on Cleveland Street a public nuisance. That action could lead to liens being placed against properties on the street should owners not fix the wall in 30 days.

In March, the city cited property owners from 208 to 246 Cleveland St. for the bad condition of the retaining wall in front of their properties.

Some property owners were told to fix a railing that runs along the top of the wall, while others were told they would have to rebuild portions of the wall, depending on what part of the wall the city linked to which property.

Property owners complained, saying since the wall had been built in the 1920s, they have seen city workers repair the wall or paint the railing. Others said in past attempts to remove or rebuild portions of the wall, city officials had told them it was city property.

The city extended the deadline on the citations for 120 days while Jim Coulter, city solicitor, researched the ownership of the wall. He determined the wall is the responsibility of the property owners.

Councilmen worked with businesses, such as DuBrook, for better prices on cement or other aspects of rebuilding the wall, Councilman Joe Bratkovich and others said Thursday night.

Mayor Leonard Pintell asked Joe Gray of Gray-Warnick Engineering, the city's engineer, to examine the wall and help owners come up with one plan to replace the wall.

Pintell also said both the city's redevelopment authority and the Butler County Housing Authority came forward with a low-interest loan program and a grant program to help homeowners pay for the replacement of the wall. Qualification for these programs is based on income levels.

But nothing has been done to repair the wall, Pintell said.

"With the winter weather coming, the inability to clear the sidewalk of ice and the problems with removing snow from the street could be dangerous or even life-threatening," he said.

The city will send letters to property owners telling them they have 30 days to fix the wall or the city will step in to fix the problem.

If that happens, the city will file liens against the properties, which will inhibit the owners' ability to sell the property without repaying the city for the wall fix.

No property owners could be reached for comment Thursday night.