Groves council orders demolition of multiple unsafe structures, gives repair deadlines for others

Groves City Council voted March 25 to condemn a group of properties the city’s Neighborhood Services Division had declared dangerous and to set repair timelines for others, officials said at a public hearing.

The action followed staff reports that several houses and accessory structures had severe structural failure, termite damage, burned areas or prolonged vacancy. Don, a Neighborhood Services inspector, told the council that in some cases "both those structures are heavily damaged in both in the flooring system and and going up," and that some properties were effectively beyond repair.

The votes covered a mix of formal condemnations and conditional actions. For multiple properties the council approved motions to begin the condemnation process; for others — including a two‑story commercial/residential building on Main Avenue and several residential parcels — council members approved deadlines for owners to pull permits and show substantial progress on repairs.

Why it matters: the condemnations and deadlines are part of the city's effort to reduce public‑safety risks from vacant or dilapidated buildings while giving owners an opportunity to rehabilitate salvageable structures. Neighborhood Services said it used certified and regular mail, property placards and newspaper publication to notify owners and titleholders before the hearing, and that staff performed full title searches in addition to appraisal‑district notice where required by state law.

Key details and process: Neighborhood Services staff described a standard code‑enforcement workflow: an initial inspection report, a first notice, a certified second notice that sets the hearing date, and — if the council approves condemnation — a third notice giving the owner 30 days to begin remediation or demolition, or to arrange the city to remove the structure. Don said the office placards structures, publishes notices and attempts to contact owners and lienholders. For properties judged potentially repairable, staff reviews whether the main structure is less than the city's damage thresholds for required demolition versus permitable remodeling.

Several owners who addressed the council said they intended to repair or sell properties but had not yet pulled permits. At 3945 Main Avenue, owner Mike Harris said he was working to find contractors and had applied for a permit in January; the council added a condition requiring Harris to begin substantial work within three months and complete work within the permit lifespan, or face condemnation. Harris told council members, "I would like to just go ahead and sell it, but I'm gonna I want to take care of the problem so that I'm not tearing the building down." The council recorded that commitment in its motion.

Across the hearing, council members and staff repeatedly emphasized due process: certified letters had been mailed, signs and spray‑painted tags were placed on structures, and title searches were used to notify lienholders. City counsel (Mitch Monk) confirmed staff followed applicable city ordinance and state notice requirements; staff said the city used the appraisal‑district address for statutory notice but also performed title searches to locate additional owners and lienholders.

The council’s decisions were unanimous on the motions recorded during the hearing. Several owners were given 30 to 90 days to begin repairs or pull permits depending on circumstances; failing to meet those timelines will allow the city to proceed with condemnation and demolition and to file liens for recovery of costs.

Votes at a glance (see actions below for official motion text and provenance): the council approved condemnation motions for multiple properties and approved conditional repair timelines or alternative outcomes for a smaller set of properties where staff recommended further opportunity to remediate.

The meeting concluded with council members thanking Neighborhood Services staff for the inspection and notification work that preceded the hearing; staff said they will follow up individually with property owners and record liens if the city performs demolitions.