Guymon code hearing continued for 909 North Ellison after owner pledges repairs

A City of Guymon code enforcement hearing on June 20 continued review of a dilapidated structure at 909 North Ellison after the property representative asked for more time to secure repairs and the city agreed to present the case to the Guymon City Council on Aug. 12.

City code enforcement staff told the hearing the case began after notice was first issued in 2023, a notice to clean was sent in February and a notice of hearing was mailed on June 4. The officer said, “the house has been dilapidated for years,” and that staff has “been giving more than enough time” for the owner to respond.

The property representative told the hearing they and a co-owner have been dealing with health problems and that the building is used for storage. The representative said they had secured materials and expected to “have the fence up” within a few weeks, adding, “I would say probably at this point, if we've, we had 2 or 3 weeks, we could probably have the fence up.”

A resident who identified himself as Kenny said he would coordinate labor: “I just got to talk to my hired hand, and we gotta get that done.” City staff warned that a fence alone would not address what staff described as a structurally failing dwelling and noted safety concerns, including an unsecured front door and interior cracks visible from the posted door.

Code enforcement staff described a new local unoccupied building code scheduled to take effect in November that would require owners of unoccupied dwellings either to rent them, rehabilitate them to habitable condition, or remove them. The officer explained the code is “geared towards taking some of these old unoccupied buildings and forcing the owners to do something with them.”

Because staff did not believe the structure could be salvaged without documented structural repairs, they offered to give the owner additional time and to bring the case to the City Council for a final determination. Staff identified the next council dates (July 8 and Aug. 12) and said the Aug. 12 meeting would give the owner “closer to 40 days” to complete work and produce documentation.

City staff also advised that contractors must pull permits for structural work so the city can inspect and document repairs. A staff member handling permits said, “Just have to make a permit fee and construction.” Staff described typical setback measurements the city uses when helping owners locate perimeter fences (25-foot front setback, 10-foot rear setback, 5-foot side setbacks) and noted a formal land survey would be required for absolute property-line certainty.

The hearing concluded with staff agreeing to re-inspect and document any work before the council meeting and with the owner instructed to provide contractor documentation and to obtain permits for structural repairs. The enforcement action will be placed on the Aug. 12 City Council agenda at 6 p.m. for council review; council will decide whether to allow the repairs to continue or to order demolition if the structure is not made safe.