Demolition will start this month on 10 properties purchased by the city of Poplar Bluff under a voluntary flood buyout in the area of Hillcrest Park.
Dornin Demolition of Doniphan, Mo., was released Wednesday to begin work, after meeting with the city planner's office, Mayor Ed DeGaris and Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission.
Ozark Foothills is administering an approximately $1 million grant that pays for the property acquisition and removal of structures.
The contractor was approved by the city council in August to remove properties on Relief, North Second, Grand and Cole streets. Dornin submitted the lowest bid for the project, at $64,000.
Work continues with other owners in the area to finalize additional buyouts, said city planner Dennis Avery.
Approximately 30 property owners were contacted by the city in 2016 after it received money from the Community Development Block Grant program. This flood buyout relates to high water that impacted homes in 2011.
"It removes the potential for people to get caught in a flood area they can't get out of. It also is cost effective, rather than continuing to repair houses in a location that floods periodically," said Avery.
The current properties include one vacant home and other owner or renter occupied properties. Flood buyouts provide additional money to help residents relocate.
Dornin will make sure any asbestos is removed from homes before beginning demolition, as well as having gas and other services disconnected, said Avery. This process could take an additional two weeks to finalize.
The CDBG program is operated by the state Department of Economic Development.
The city has done approximately four flood buyouts in the past, acquiring about 80 properties.
The flood buyout process limits the way in which these properties can be used in the future and restricts additional structures from being built.
Some of the past buyout properties have been incorporated into the city park system, used by neighboring properties for additional yard or parking space, or maintained as open green space by the street department, Avery said.