Demolition orders were issued Thursday for a fire-damaged home on North Main and eight other properties as the Poplar Bluff Building Standards Board weighed owner history and extenuating circumstances while making difficult decisions.
The orders will be in effect for 90 days, during which time the board hopes owners will take action.
If property owners fail to take action, the city may then begin what can be a months-long process to take over demolition.
The owner of 1410 N. Main, for example, died. Carla Shanks was the only person listed on the title, explained building inspector Tony Chilton. Relatives agree the house needs to be demolished, he said, but it will take a court ruling for either the family or city to get permission to tear down the two-story house.
Lack of city funds to pay for demolition also hampers the process, board members said.
"From what I see, we're spinning our wheels a lot of times," said member Lonnie Taylor. "We don't have enough money to put a bunch of teeth into this."
No city does, but it doesn't mean there will be no improvements, others on the board said.
"Progress is slow," said Nevada Young, city planning department secretary.
The city has applied for grant money to assist with demolition costs, but has been turned down, she said.
The city has about $35,000 scheduled for community cleanup. This money also pays for the annual Buff up the Bluff, to be held April 22. The city pays about $10,000 in dumpster fees to dispose of unwanted items brought in by residents.
The hope is action by the board will encourage property owners to step up, according to member Eric Schalk.
Four properties were given either 30 or 60 days to show improvement.
Property owner Kimberly Robertson promised the home she owns at 310 N. C St. will be secured as she tries to sell it.
"I know the roof is really bad, but the inside is really worth it. There's so much potential in that house," Robertson said.
A request for more time from another property owner was turned down, after what board members said was several years of problems with 836 Kinzer.
Demolition has been ordered, and owner Michael Rockwell has been told the house is too dangerous to be occupied.
The home does not have electric, water or a working bathroom. Rockwell said he has been living at the property because he has no where else to go.
"Unfortunately, we have this problem in town, more than just him," Chilton said.
The siding has been taken off the home, there are no floor coverings on the ground floor, and the walls are open to the studs, in addition to other issues, Chilton said.
"It's a dangerous building," Schalk said.
The house has been that way for years and will likely look the same a year from now, board members said, before ordering demolition.
Demolition also has been ordered for: 808 Benton St., a bank-owned property with an open roof, missing windows and rotten siding and porch; fire-damaged 931 Ivadene, owned by Charles Grubb, who said he has a quote and should be able to begin work in the next 90 days; 100 E. Lexington, owned by David Underwood, who is working with the city to set a payment plan for demolition; 218 W. Relief, owned by Katherine Nelson, who has not responded to the city's letters; fire-damaged 125 S. Eighth St., owned by Arvel Billington, who is waiting on an insurance claim; and fire-damaged 201 W. Lexington, owned by William Young.
Property owner Greg West appeared before the board to discuss a fire damaged home at 907 North St., and a long vacant property at 1308 W. Harper St.
Two people died in the North Street home, and his insurance company would not allow work to begin until litigation was settled, West said. Demolition began this week.
Work is underway to secure the Harper Street property, he continued.
Problems with the home were caused by a drainage issues, he said. This began after the city constructed a new water tower up the hill from the house, according to West.
"The way water runs down, it's a problem the city needs to address to get the water away from the houses," West said.
Chilton said the city could have someone look at the issue.
Property owner Frank Payne will have until June 8 to make improvements to 928 Maud St., where he has an active remodeling permit and work has been done.
Dianna Denton Buhler has 30 days to begin demolition at 800 Davis St., where an insurance settlement recently was made following fire damage.