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Council hears update on adjudicated properties, demolition plans and a firefighter lawsuit lien that has stalled property sales
Summary
Council discussed progress on a set of adjudicated properties targeted for cleanup and possible demolition, an outside firm used to manage adjudicated property sales, and a separate firefighter lawsuit that has placed a lien on at least one parcel and complicated a pending sale.
Council members and staff discussed a multi-part effort to cite and, where necessary, demolish blighted or adjudicated properties and to use those actions to support a pending grant application.
City staff said there is a list of properties—approximately 62—that had been targeted as part of a cleanup and grant strategy. The city attorney and staff said the process for moving forward requires code-enforcement citations, certified notice to property owners and the time for those notices to run before the city can proceed with abatement or demolition. City staff said private property status limits the city's authority until procedural steps are complete.
Why it matters: the work affects neighborhood blight, the city's eligibility for grants, and how fast units or parcels can be returned to productive use.
Council members asked for a shared, district-sorted spreadsheet of adjudicated and cited properties so members can track status. Staff said they plan to return within seven days with an update and that they will compile a shareable spreadsheet listing citations and stages.
Separately, the council discussed work with an outside firm identified in the transcript as "E and P Solutions" that handles adjudicated-property sales and collections. A council member asked for a year-to-date accounting of properties sold by the firm; city staff said they would provide that monthly to the finance chair.
Sale complications: staff and counsel described a pending property sale that stalled because a multi-plaintiff firefighter lawsuit has an existing judgment recorded against the property. Counsel explained the judgment acts like a lien; to convey clear title the plaintiffs in that suit would need to agree to a partial release of the lien or accept proceeds in a way that reduces the judgment. Staff said the outstanding balance tied to firefighter claims was reported in the audit accounting as roughly $2,000,000 as of May 6, 2024 (annual partial satisfaction accounting date referenced). Counsel said attempts to secure a partial release of the judgment had not produced consensus among plaintiffs and that a prospective buyer ultimately withdrew because the plaintiffs would not agree to the partial release.
Demolition contracting: the transcript records that the council has authorized or reviewed contract actions to demolish specific structures (addresses on Maryville were cited as 806, 808 and 816 Maryville). Staff said some structures have already been demolished and invoices are pending; others will come forward at the next meeting.
Ending: Staff committed to provide a property-status spreadsheet broken out by council district, to provide monthly reports on adjudicated-property sales handled by the outside firm, and to follow up on the legal steps needed to clear liens or obtain partial releases where necessary.
