JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Debris removal at a demolition site in Janesville has been halted.

The owner of the site of the former Case Feed Building said the city won't allow them to sort through the debris, and now they are taking their claim to the city's zoning board of appeals.

The Case Feed Building that used to sit in Janesville's historic Fourth Ward is now a pile of rubble, but for some the dust has yet to settle following Tuesday's demolition.

"The bricks belong to the seller and he has a right to recycle those," said Andreah Briarmoon, a real estate agent representing the owner of the lot where the building was demolished.

After the 100-year old building was torn down, the owner filed an appeal to stop the city to from removing the piles of rubble.

"They have financial value; they have sentimental value; they have historic value; and they have repair materials value," Briarmoon said.

But Gale Price, the manager of Janesville's Building and Development Services, said the demolition had already started when the city received the appeal. He said there were some safety issues at the site.

"There's a huge concern on our part, which is one of the reasons we choose not to salvage materials from the building, because everything that's painted was covered with a lead-based paint," Price said.

Price said the city will offer the property owner an opportunity to salvage some bricks but only if it's done safely.

"We believe they need to have a contractor do it, instead of say a group of volunteers. That way there's limited amount of potential danger for people," Price said.

Price said it's up to the owner to accept the offer, but Briarmoon said for the owner it's about more than just bricks.

"We need restitution for damages done, and we need procedures that will allow city employees to respect the private property rights and the personal property rights of our citizens here in Janesville," Briarmoon said.

The owner will have a limited time to accept or decline the city's offer. Either way, they still have an opportunity to take their appeal before the zoning board of appeals later this month.