Winnsboro council orders demolition of substandard structure at 807 Church Street

The Winnsboro City Council voted to order demolition of a structure it found unfit for human habitation at 807 Church Street, approving an abatement order that requires demolition within 30 days.

Council members took up Order 25-00022 after city staff presented photographs and a building inspector’s report documenting interior and exterior conditions. The property owner of record signed a notarized statement waiving rights to a public hearing, and the city attorney was consulted on the matter.

A council member moved that the council approve Order 25-00022 “finding the structure at 807 Church Street, Winnsboro unfit for human habitation and order its demolition within 30 days.” The motion carried after a voice vote with the mayor calling for “all in favor, aye” and “all opposed, no.”

City staff noted the order directs demolition within 30 days; the council did not specify who will pay demolition costs in the motion. The package provided to council included the building inspector’s report and photographs that staff said document the substandard conditions.

The agenda item was taken up during the meeting’s regular business; the transcript shows the city attorney was involved and that the owner waived a hearing, which allowed the council to act that evening. The council did not provide additional details about follow-up enforcement steps or whether the city will recover costs through a lien or billing.

Council discussion on this item was brief and limited to the motion and the clerk’s confirmation that required materials were in the meeting packet. The council moved on after the motion passed.