Grant City Council Condemns Five Buildings on Square

At a public hearing Wednesday, November 1st, the Grant City Council declared five buildings on the Square to be unsafe. They have given the owners ten days to mitigate the hazards or face further action. 

Four buildings were inspected this year by Nick’s Inspection Services and found to be unsafe in some way. The Dogman’s building on the south side of the Square was inspected by the Missouri DNR.

In response to questions from City Attorney Taryn Henry, City Administrator Meggan Brown testified to the nature of the deterioration of the buildings in question. All owners were notified, a Notice of Public Hearing was published, and Brown testified that none of the owners complied with letters regarding the city’s Dangerous Building Ordinance. Brown said that each building was dangerous and unsafe and recommended that each building be taken down. None of the owners were present.

Mayor Debbie Roach and all three council members present, Catherine Runde, Kevin Kobbe, and Lenny Campbell voted that each building should be deemed dangerous and unsafe. According to city ordinances, property owners normally have 30 days to comply with the decision, but since this is an emergency situation, the council can determine the time frame that work has to be completed. The council decided on a ten day time frame to comply. Attorney Taryn Henry will put together the orders.

The Masonic Lodge Building at 318 South Main, below which the Mission Possible building used to be located, has exterior walls leaning or buckling, portions of the building in danger of collapse, the building has been damaged, and utilities have become dangerous or inoperable. The roof and/or walls have holes allowing the entry of weather and the foundation has settled or been damaged. 

The buildings on 321 and 323 South Front Street in Grant City, the Hole in the Wall, all on the west side of the Square, and the State Farm Building on the northwest corner of the Square, all had the same findings. The Dogman’s building on the south side of the Square was found to have had excessive structural damage to the southern half of the building. 

There were two public comments at the hearing. Tyler Steele, who owns The Petaler, located next to the Hole in the Wall, expressed concern that there could be potential damage to his building when that building is taken down. He said that his building has already sustained damage from the collapsing building. Erin Fletchall expressed concern that the Masonic Lodge building was right next to the Grant City Apartments building and wanted a time frame for the demolition. She said she is going to have to relocate before demolition started. The council explained to her that funding hadn’t been approved yet, but that tenants would be notified.