LUMBERTON — The City Council on Wednesday voted to tear down a vacant house at 1005 Maple St. that has been deemed an eyesore and is structurally unsound.

The unanimous vote came on a motion by Erich Hackney, who represents Precinct 8, where the property is located.

City Attorney Thomas Powers told the council that the July 1 deadline for bids passed without a single offer on the property, which has been listed as surplus for four years. Hackney has advocated demolishing the house, saying doing so is worth the $16,000 cost.

“I’m tired of dealing with it and I want to be done with it,” he said.

Also during the Council Policy Committee meeting, Public Works Director Rob Armstrong asked for permission to apply for a state grant to pay for a $780,789 project extending sewer lines to Clybourn Church Road. The city annexed the area years ago, but businesses there — including a gas station, funeral home, veterinary clinic, and farm supply store — don’t have access to city sewer lines; they use grinder pumps or septic tanks.

The city is required to provide sewer lines within the city.

“If we don’t get a grant to pay for it, we have to put sewer out there anyway — it’s just a matter of finding ways to pay for it,” Special Projects Manager Dixon Ivey said to quell debate.

The plan calls for gravity lines and nearly 1.5 miles of force mains to meet at a central pumping station.

Armstrong said the lines would be built so that westward expansion along the N.C. 211 corridor would be possible.

A city match isn’t required, but a contribution of 10 percent, $78,000, helps increase the chances of being awarded the grant, City Manager Wayne Horne said.

Also during the meeting, Fire Chief Mike Cox asked for permission to apply for a federal grant that could be used to build a fire station on Contempora Drive on property that is owned by the city and is convenient to the Interstate 95 corridor and South Lumberton.

Cox wants to close the fire station on Dunn Road, which currently covers South Lumberton, and transfer personnel and equipment to the new station.

But several councilmen were concerned that closing the Dunn station, built in 1979 so fire trucks could access South Lumberton without railroad track interference, would leave South Lumberton vulnerable.

The state mandates that fire stations cover an area of no more than five road miles, and so the I-95 corridor, between mile markers 13 and 10, is outside four Lumberton stations’ coverage, but still in city limits. Cox said the area has potential for economic development.

“We don’t have fire protection out there and so insurance premiums would be as high as possible — an astronomical price,” Cox said.

The grant, due Friday, does not require a city match, but Horne said a 10 percent contribution would increase the odds of securing the grant.

Also on Wednesday, the council:

— Heard Police Chief Mike McNeill request that a 45-foot section of 17th Street be made a no-parking zone. Reddy Ice’s driveway intersects 17th Street, and the company wants to clear the street so its 53-foot-long delivery trucks won’t damage vehicles parked on the street.

— Granted McNeill permission to apply for a $27,422 U.S. Department of Justice Practice Safe Neighborhoods grant, which would pay for six months of salary and benefits for a program coordinator.

— Granted McNeill permission to accept $171,351 offered by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The grant will pay for training, equipment, and overtime.

— Accepted Human Resources Director James Moore’s recommendation that the Police Department create a new corporal position. Currently, an officer can progress from master police officer to sergeant, but the new position would add another position before sergeant. The corporal would be a first-line supervisor.

— Adopted a resolution opposing House Bill 524, which has a provision the resolution says would allow annexed residents to avoid municipal taxes.

— Granted the Tax Office permission to refund $3,594.40 in taxes erroneously imposed in 2007 and 2008.

— Accepted ABC Board Vice Chairman Mitchell Lassiter’s resignation from the board.

— Approved Precinct 2 Councilman Wyatt Johnson’s request to appoint Bruce Huggins to the Robeson County Public Library board of trustees.

— Approved Horne’s request to donate $1,200 to Robeson County Church and Community Center to purchase 16-inch Portable Stand fans for the elderly.

— Approved the donation of $900 of discretionary money to sponsor youths to attend Billie’s Basketball Camp.

— Approved the donation of $3,750 of discretionary money to Back-to-School Community Day.

— Approved Precinct 7 Councilman Leon Maynor’s request for $200 of discretionary money for the precinct’s community watch program.

— Approved Precinct 4 Councilman Harry Ivey’s request for $400 of discretionary money for community watch signs in his precinct.

Any action from Wednesday must be approved by the council during a regular meeting. The council meets on Monday.