Pampa commissioners order 30-day demolition for four substandard homes after public hearings

The Pampa City Commission on Tuesday issued 30-day demolition orders for four properties the city’s code-enforcement staff described as dangerous and uninhabitable. The orders cover 829 Barnes, 742 Malone, 721 Malone and 838 Malone; commission motions carried after staff presented inspection findings and efforts to contact owners.

Code enforcement officer Jeff Kennedy told the commission that inspectors had made repeated attempts to contact owners by certified mail, regular mail, phone and notices posted on doors before asking the commission to condemn the structures. “It’s a danger to any kids in the neighborhood. Our first responders — they go in there — they could get hurt,” Kennedy said, describing collapsed floors and missing plumbing at multiple sites. Kennedy said one structure was leaning and not safe to enter.

The commission opened public hearings for each property and heard brief background from staff. On 829 Barnes, staff said the owner had died in 2006 and that an individual in the neighborhood claimed the property had been left to her but that the deed was never transferred. For 742 Malone staff said the owner’s family lived in Canada and had not responded; the house had been without water for more than eight years. For 721 Malone the property was identified as locally owned by Maribel Pacheco; code notices had been removed from the exterior on two occasions and a certified letter was signed but produced no response. For 838 Malone staff reported a multi-year effort to resolve code issues.

Commissioners moved and seconded motions to issue 30-day demolition orders for each address. The motions specified substandard-building ordering sections (for example: ordering numbers 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19 and 20 were cited in the motion for several properties) and carried. The public hearings were opened and closed before the formal motions; no members of the public presented opposition during the hearings.

During discussion commissioners and residents asked procedural questions about ownership transfer, liens and post-demolition title. A commissioner asked whether the city takes ownership of property after demolition; a staff member replied that the city does not transfer title by issuing a condemnation order: signing the administrative waiver used in notification does not convey ownership. Kennedy outlined how demolition costs are calculated: equipment, labor hours, landfill loads and tipping fees. He said those costs are billed and become a lien against the property.

Staff described the typical timeline: the commission issues a 30-day order; the city posts notice (including newspaper publication and on-site posting) and waits the 30 days before proceeding. Staff also said the city attempts to secure owner waivers earlier in the enforcement timeline so property owners can avoid formal condemnation if they comply.

The commission thanked code enforcement staff for the work and emphasized the public-safety rationale for the orders. The motions carried and the orders will proceed according to the posted timelines and statutory notice procedures.