Monterey official urges condemnation of Fort Smith Park building; commissioners authorize drafting of unsafe‑building ordinance

Doug Denton, president of the Monterey town board, urged Pulaski County commissioners to move forward with legal action to address a decades‑old, deteriorating building at Fort Smith Park that Denton said is in code and health‑department violation and poses a public‑safety risk.

"I'm here tonight to try to persuade you for the 100th time to possibly move this process forward," Denton said, describing a property that has ‘‘basically [been] falling down’’ and for which the town and residents seek county action through condemnation and demolition. Denton said the property has a long administrative record and that residents have repeatedly asked for the county to proceed.

Commission members and staff discussed the statutory process and whether an ordinance establishing an unsafe‑building board exists; county staff said they would confirm. The county attorney and staff recommended preparing an ordinance if none is on the books so the county can set hearings and notices required by state law.

The board made and seconded a motion to allow the county attorney to work with staff to confirm whether an unsafe‑building ordinance exists and to prepare one for adoption if it does not, enabling the statutory hearing and condemnation process to move forward. The motion passed on voice vote.

County counsel and staff said preparing or confirming the ordinance is step one; if adopted, the county would schedule required notices, hearings and then pursue condemnation procedures. Commissioners said they did not expect an immediate demolition but said the ordinance would enable the county to act when legal steps and funding are arranged.