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City keeps pressure on owner of 118 East Wall after engineer says building can be taken down safely
Summary
City commissioners received an initial engineer report on the structurally compromised building at 118 East Wall and directed the owner to provide a repair or demolition plan by the next meeting; staff said full demolition would be slower, more costly and require additional estimates.
Fort Scott commissioners on Dec. 17 reviewed an initial structural engineer report for 118 East Wall and pressed the property owner for a concrete action plan to make the building safe or undertake demolition.
Why it matters: The building’s condition has blocked a neighboring business and raised safety concerns downtown. The commission wants a timeline that allows the adjacent property to reopen and avoids prolonged disruption along Wall Street.
The city received only an initial engineer report the afternoon of the meeting; staff and commissioners said a more comprehensive follow-up is expected. Commissioners asked whether the building could be taken down without damaging the adjacent structure; the engineer present told the body, “It can be done. It can be done,” indicating demolition is technically possible but would likely be careful, slower and more expensive than straightforward wrecking.
Commissioners made clear they expect a firm plan from the owner. The city manager said the owner would be provided the report and should return with an action plan and a completion date; commissioners suggested the owner should provide an answer by the next meeting or the commission will consider taking action itself.
Commissioners also noted practical constraints this time of year: contractors and masons are harder to secure around the holiday season, and some suggested the second meeting in January might be a more realistic target for a contractor response. Despite that caution, several commissioners said they will not continue to extend grace periods indefinitely and want either a contractor commitment or for the city to pursue other options.
What’s next: Staff will deliver the engineer report to the owner and request a date by the next meeting. If the owner does not produce a plan and timeline, the commission said it will pursue other actions to protect public safety and allow the neighboring business to reopen.
