San Diego

Two aging farmhouses owned by the City of San Diego in San Pasqual Valley were given a two-week reprieve from demolition by the City Council on Monday.

Councilman Bill Mitchell argued that the two-story buildings, which house 17 relatives of two dairy workers, could be repaired, and that the families would not be able to find other housing if the sturdy old buildings were razed. City Property Department Director Jim Spotts said that the houses were being recommended for demolition because the well water for both houses did not meet county health standards.

Mike Horvath, spokesman for TMY Farms, has agreed to pay for demolition of the two structures, but Frank Konyn, the dairy farmer who employs two members of the families, said that he will file suit against the city if his workers’ families are evicted.

Mayor Roger Hedgecock warned that the city would face problems of liability if it allows the families to continue to occupy the substandard houses and use unsafe water.

Council members voted unanimously Monday to delay action to demolish the two houses and to test all wells serving city-owned housing in the valley to determine if there are other families subjected to potential nitrate poisoning from well water.