The Board of Public Works and Safety for Kokomo City voted May 28 to approve an emergency demolition order for 211 West King Street and authorized staff to advertise for sealed bids, due by 10 a.m. July 2, 2025.

City staff told the board the office began the demolition process Dec. 5, 2024, and that a reinspection found the structure unsafe. A staff member said, “Our office started this process on 12/05/2024. Upon reinspection of the property, our inspector noticed that the structure is unsafe. Homeless are going in and out of the home regularly.” Notices and an emergency hearing were sent and hand-delivered on April 24, 2025, and staff said a person named Victor spoke directly with the homeowner but the owner has not contacted the office or made repairs.

The emergency-demolition motion was made by a board member and seconded; the board recorded all votes as “aye.” The motion included authority for the city to solicit bids for demolition work and specified the sealed-bid deadline.

The demolition action follows the city’s inspection and a lack of owner response documented in notices and an April 24 emergency hearing. Board members opened the matter for public comment and, receiving none, closed the hearing before voting.

Next steps are for the city to advertise the demolition contract and receive sealed bids by the July 2 deadline; the board did not set other conditions or a timeline for execution beyond the bidding process.