CAIRO — Cairo officials are cracking down on blighted homes in residential areas, though at least one local property owner says he thinks Cairo’s tactics are too harsh.

Bainbridge resident Bryan Doss, who owns a home that has been condemned within Cairo’s city limits, says he thinks the city’s policy has gone too far.

“To see a house like that torn down is crazy, whether it’s my house or not,” Doss said in a recent appearance before the Cairo City Council.

“When you all tear it down, what’s the chance that somebody is going to building a house there?” he continued. “It’s not likely.”

Mayor Howard Thrower said the city’s policy is vigorous by design.

“We go by the code,” Thrower said, “and we are aggressive in pursuing that code.”

A municipal judge ordered this month that Doss’ house be demolished due to a lack of upkeep. Doss, who owns multiple properties in the city, believes that the dwelling is “structurally fine.”

“The grass wasn’t cut and the windows were knocked out,” said Doss, who was present at the meeting wearing a gas mask-type facial covering which he removed before approaching the council with pictures of the condemned home.

Doss said the house, which he also noted has a partially caved-in ceiling, is “not in bad shape.”

“‘It’s crazy,'” he said he told his attorney. “‘I can’t believe it. It’s like I’m living in a different world. Why would they want to tear that house down?'”

The building is “not a high value house” in Doss’ assessment, and he says the cost of repairs are not worth the price. He argues that a fine is a more suitable punishment, and has offered to pay a $1,000 fee or let the city mow the property’s grass on their own and bill him for their services later.

City officials say that assessment isn’t Doss’ to make.

“You wouldn’t want to live next to these houses, and none of our residents do either,” said council member Jimmy Douglas.

Council members warned Doss that he has two other properties within the city limits in worse shape than the unit in question.

Some 300 blighted houses have been demolished by the city “in the past seven or so years,” Thrower said.

“One of our goals is to remove properties that are not fitting the code,” the mayor said. “We’re trying to make Cairo look nice, and we will continue to be aggressive with the code.”

Thrower added that the city will go through with whatever the municipal judge decides in Doss’ case — for now, a demolition.

Doss said Cairo is “very aggressive in tearing down houses.”

“Probably more aggressive than anyone in our area,” he said.

City officials say their ordinance on home abatement and demolition is in full compliance with state law.

“As a matter of fact, a lot of the language (in the ordinance) is the exact same language that’s in the state law,” said city attorney Thomas Lehman.