The Picayune Public Works Department demolished the second house of the year on Friday during the city’s annual cleanup season.

In November 2015, a fire destroyed over half of a home at 1107 Brookdale Drive, Picayune Code Enforcement Officer Tom Milar said.

Even though the homeowners had house insurance, Milar said they never responded to the city’s numerous contact attempts.

The home sat vacant for about 18 months, he said, becoming blighted and a nuisance to the neighborhood.

The Picayune City Council declared the property a public nuisance at the Oct. 18, 2016 meeting, according to council records.

Milar said the neighbors reported not knowing where the homeowners went, and continued to file blight complaints.

A lien will be placed on the property, Milar said.

If the property owner doesn’t come forward and pay the lien within three years, it will go up for sale, allowing someone else to pay the owed taxes in exchange for ownership of the property, he said.

While the home was demolished in just a few minutes, Picayune Public Works Director Eric Morris said for a brick home like this one, the cost for the work can average between $6,000 to $8,000 for fuel, equipment, wages and disposal fees.

A vehicle left on the property will also be removed by a private tow company and stored while attempts are made to locate the owner, Milar said.

The city has three other blighted properties to be demolished in the coming weeks, previous coverage states.

Each year, the city sets aside time in January and February to clean up nuisance properties, according to previous coverage.