CHINA -- A dispute over a collapsed chicken barn has ruffled feathers in town and a lawsuit in Kennebec County Superior Court.

The town of China is suing Carrol F. White, who owns the Main Street property where the barn collapsed, asking a judge to order White to remove the debris. If that fails, the town wants court approval to remove the debris and bill White for the costs.

The town contends the debris, which is in three large piles, is a serious fire hazard because it consists of "highly flammable old wood," is located near homes and other structures, and presents "an attractive nuisance to young children, youth and others," according to the complaint filed by the town's attorney, Alton C. Stevens.

Stevens said White, who had used the building for storage, removed some material after the building partially collapsed. But "the town is still concerned and would like to complete the project," Stevens said.

White, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, denies most of the allegations and says he is having difficulty finding a contractor to do the work. In a response filed with the court, he asked to have the case dismissed.

White broke off negotiations with selectmen after he said proposed consent agreements were altered without his approval.

At one point in July, White told the board, "I will not sign any draft presented to me by this board, due to the way I've been treated. I'll do my own thing."

Today, the way to the heap of boards, which is located in a field behind the former Silver Lake Grange Hall, is blocked by a long sawhorse and a series of "No Trespassing" signs in English and Spanish.

"I attempted to get it removed and the town stopped me," White said Wednesday. "I am still attempting to remove the pile, but I can't find anybody to do it because of the bad publicity."

He said he initially tried to have the local fire department burn the barn, which collapsed in February. That attempt failed, he said, after someone mentioned the pile might include some hazardous materials. White is adamant that it does not. "It's clear, clean wood," he said. White wanted the material burned and the area seeded.

When he bought the property in 1989, he said he had hoped to use it as a site for six units of housing for the elderly.

When he was prevented from burning it, he sought a contractor to grind it but that contractor backed out, White said, and he is now negotiating with an out-of-state grinder.