[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6592758,"mediaKeyId","2776950-96e3875ef1155cc04d4e6e8ecd14dd13","parentId",2776950,"title","Board gives 90 days and allows sale conditionally for flood-prone 912 Hearst Drive","audioSeconds",2049,"startMs",1239000,"endMs",3288000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776950-96e3875ef1155cc04d4e6e8ecd14dd13&start=1239&end=3288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776950-96e3875ef1155cc04d4e6e8ecd14dd13/thumbnail_1239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6592758/Hopkinsville-City/Christian-County/Kentucky/Board-gives-90-days-and-allows-sale-conditionally-for-flood-prone-912-Hearst-Drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592758-148ee554326a6edf4a9359cd77c99fb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182250&Signature=XfnvyCaWWVtHx8f~E3~qtlPgdFGMtOODzIonwf3xwX6654vkkeJf-pPrBzLXqMm04Ie4xaWGSEEEeq7I0VGqEDt~An6KBarVQVthDBLzqyTSCl6AEgbNzDoMdiESe~B5SlykfVnntttHVpHBoSwklye71XZiieLeCQNHaUs6PkiWC7mU2PRTmBmGkKQPDQQLGYZFZ6MIiD227bJPQ6p59HBVTuY1i9WLdG1wF2RFGBjat3vKE6wVB3mMxJOt23CxTEmqCRNI-P6Hf3UUH66eio6Z6k8C1KnvfRFiM6eiDRxqHGYcrD4c3AHO--9Bg50Chyp2qVzFvQvHvoaaGcgwXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Hopkinsville, KY","date","2025-03-26T15:02:25.7Z","article","The Hopkinsville City Code Ordinance Enforcement Board on March 25 found the house at 912 Hearst Drive to be an unsafe structure because of repeated flooding, foundation settlement and extensive mold, and it granted the owner or a new buyer 90 days to bring the property into compliance.

Mark DeArmond, code enforcement officer with the Hopkinsville Fire Department, told the board the house sits in an AE floodplain and has a documented history of flooding in 1979, 1988–89 and again in 2023. DeArmond said an inspection after recent storms found about 24 inches of standing water inside the house during the most recent event and interior damage including warped floors, cracked/block-split foundation in the crawlspace and visible mold.

\"There really was literally 24 inches of water inside,\" DeArmond said, describing water lines visible on interior walls and saturated ductwork he recommended removing. DeArmond said a third-party engineer, Kelly Gardner, found mold contamination in ductwork and recommended treating or replacing floor joists and other structural elements.

Gary Ray Martin, who said he is the son-in-law and representative for owner Molly Spain, told the board a local contractor had offered to buy the property and submitted a signed purchase agreement for $25,000. \"We have a buyer who is willing to purchase the house at 10% of that figure, a little over $25,000,\" Martin said, asking the board to permit a sale so Spain could recover some value.

City counsel advised the board the city can, in limited circumstances, approve a transfer that puts the buyer \"in the shoes\" of the current owner so the purchaser assumes the obligations of the board's order. Counsel said the board does not have discretion to extend remedial time beyond the ordinance maximum; under the code the board may grant up to 90 days for repair of unsafe structures.

After deliberation the board voted to find a violation. On a motion the board assessed a fine described in the record as a minimum of $5,350 plus a $200 administrative fee, allowed the owner to sell to the prospective buyer under a city agreement that binds the buyer to the board's orders, and gave the owner or new owner 90 days to complete repairs or demolition. The vote on the penalty and time allowance passed 4–1.

DeArmond cautioned the board and prospective buyer that flood damage and mold often reveal more hidden damage once renovation begins; he said renovations could require removal of drywall, studs, insulation and floor systems. The board closed the hearing and moved on to other agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hopkinsville Code of Enforcement Board Meeting - March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hopkinsville Code Ordinance Enforcement Board found 912 Hearst Drive unsafe due to repeated flooding and mold, allowed a prospective buyer to assume obligations under a city agreement, and granted the owner or buyer 90 days to bring the property up to code with a monetary penalty.","taxTitle","Hopkinsville City, Christian County, Kentucky","taxId",51060,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6592762,"Hopkinsville board finds 131 Locust Grove Road unsafe, orders demolition",886,354000,1240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776950-96e3875ef1155cc04d4e6e8ecd14dd13&start=354&end=1240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776950-96e3875ef1155cc04d4e6e8ecd14dd13/thumbnail_354000.jpg","/articles/6592762/Hopkinsville-City/Christian-County/Kentucky/Hopkinsville-board-finds-131-Locust-Grove-Road-unsafe-orders-demolition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592762-20e5f7c9938c2df3419744a833c633e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182250&Signature=N-gOQyVKxTIflU9r3baVKNQln3QPeOfwYQJ7qC761ik6lad1d-2d0tU-4tU8iZ1yl8L0JQgoMXCw3yzLXtMogthv06BP-O~9IeLMln6fUSkrlsNtLEaMvZDejEO7bn99EM8mh6tnhm2enXSCPQ-cfzkUgLvyhlAQ-pU5oRpVAkoec6UQtfO0kED-7qcRIrp49it8tcNkvAW29g1g7ZL1B0YIiq1v~dlkVSY5wNFXVYlle7Xe83KRqG4oQWe2LeIf~47gfKPserRqswLsEwD1aWQZsUghM7tOITZdr1pUreAyqFwQMaPJlTxTdRk6mKPlO75zPqkeKNkE5O9bItYjCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rodney Davis, chairman of the Hopkinsville City Code Ordinance Enforcement Board, voted March 25 that the property at 131 Locust Grove Road is an unsafe structure and ordered the city to proceed with demolition of the house and its detached garage.

Mark DeArmond, code enforcement officer with the Hopkinsville Fire Department, told the board the home was struck by the May 20, 2023, tornado and that a large tree destroyed the accessory garage and damaged the back of the house. DeArmond said water and electrical service have been off since the tornado, interior ceilings and walls had collapsed in places, and photographs showed what he described as possible black mold on ceilings and walls.

\"This house was struck by the 05/20/2023 tornado,\" DeArmond said, and he described interior water damage and debris that made the structure hazardous. He told the board the property met the agency's checklist for an unsafe structure during an inspection and that the house presented a health risk because of mold and evidence someone had been inside the building.

DeArmond reported taxes on the property were delinquent, listing $10,613 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2018. He said a notice of violation and citation were issued after reinspection and that the city's certified mail to the owner was returned signed.

No representative for Bison Bison Investment LLC was present; DeArmond said his contact was Emily Rittenberry Bison, who lives in Toronto and had told him she and a sibling would pursue loans or insurance claims before deciding whether to repair. DeArmond said he had received no further documents showing an active insurance or loan approval.

After closing the hearing to deliberation, the board voted that the city had met its burden of proof that a violation existed. The board then voted to assess a $350 fine plus a $200 administrative fee and ordered the city to proceed with demolition of both the house and the detached garage.

The board advised that, under Hopkinsville code, the board may order the property owner to remedy an unsafe structure within a specified period or the city may act; appeals of final board orders are available to the Christian District Court within 30 days of the board's final order. The board closed the hearing and moved on to its next agenda item.","The Hopkinsville Code Ordinance Enforcement Board found the home at 131 Locust Grove Road unsafe following testimony about tornado and water damage and voted to fine the owner and have the city remove the house and garage.","actionData","errors"]

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Board gives 90 days and allows sale conditionally for flood-prone 912 Hearst Drive

Hopkinsville board finds 131 Locust Grove Road unsafe, orders demolition