Abilene board orders fines, repair deadlines and demolition orders for seven properties

Abilene Board of Building Standards members on Sept. 3 approved staff recommendations to assess daily civil penalties against a downtown property owner, require repair plans and permits for a Henson Street house, and declare multiple properties public nuisances with demolition orders or the option to appeal to district court within 30 days.

The board’s actions affect seven cases the city presented at the hearing. City property maintenance inspector Ricky Wright summarized the staff findings and recommendations, citing substandard conditions, unsafe electrical and plumbing, structural hazards and inadequate weather protection at the properties. Wright said owners had generally not submitted permits or repair plans and that some properties showed only cleanup, not structural repairs. "We have not had any further contact" from several owners, Wright said regarding follow-up after prior board orders.

Why it matters: The orders require owners to repair or remove unsafe structures, or face city action, costs and daily civil penalties. Several of the properties are in residential neighborhoods and a mobile-home park; the board framed the decisions as public-safety and blight remedies.

Votes at a glance

- Case 24-000052 — 300 Wall Street (owner listed: 300 Wall Street LLC): Board ordered civil penalties of $500 per day for noncompliance from July 3 through Sept. 2, 2025 (63 days), totaling $31,500. Motion by Board member Allred; second by Board member Wyatt. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved.

- Case 24-000054 — 5502 North First Street (owner listed: 300 Wall Street LLC): Board ordered civil penalties of $250 per day for noncompliance from July 3 through Sept. 2, 2025 (63 days), totaling $15,750. Motion by Board member Dugger; second by Board member McBrayer. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved.

- Case 24-000055 — 5512 North First Street (owner listed: 300 Wall Street LLC): Same penalty schedule as 24-000054: $250 per day for 63 days; total $15,750. Same motion/second and unanimous roll-call as above. Outcome: approved.

- Case 24-000756 — 2226 Henson Street (owner listed: Donald A. Williams): Staff recommended the owner provide a plan of action and timeframe within 30 days, obtain permits, and complete rough-in inspections within 60 days; final inspections to be completed by permit expiration. Motion by Board member McBrayer; second by Board member Allred. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved (repair orders with timelines).

- Case 25-001191 — 218 Meander Street (owner listed: Blanca Cortez): Staff recommended the property be declared a public nuisance and that repair would be unreasonable; the board ordered demolition or an appeal to district court within 30 days. Motion by Board member Allred; second by Board member Wyatt. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved (nuisance declaration and demolition order).

- Case 25-002158 — 1134 Elm Street (owner listed: Bobby Jean Gaines): Item was taken off the table and, after staff reported the property is under contract for sale and the prospective buyer indicated support for demo, the board declared the property a public nuisance and ordered demolition or appeal to district court within 30 days. Motion by Board member McNeil; second by Board member Dugger. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved (nuisance declaration and demolition order). Owner Bobby Gaines spoke at the hearing and said he needed "a little more time for him to finish up the paperwork" related to the sale.

- Case 25-003835 — 161 South Pioneer Drive, Lot 61 (landowner: Westgate Mobile Home Park LTD; mobile homeowner listed: Justin E. Davis): Staff reported the mobile home was determined abandoned and the new park owner is pursuing cleanup; staff recommended the property be declared a public nuisance and ordered demolition or appeal within 30 days. Motion by Board member Dugger; second by Board member McNeil. Roll-call: Wyatt, Allred, McBrayer, McNeil, Dugger, Beard — all yes. Outcome: approved (nuisance declaration and demolition order).

Discussion vs. decision

Most discussion consisted of board members asking Wright for clarifications on contact attempts, what cleanup had occurred, and whether owners had applied for permits. Wright repeatedly described limited contact, cleanup activity but no structural repairs or roof work, and instances where staff could not gain access to document interior conditions. In one case Wright said the cleanup contractor repeatedly postponed meetings so staff could not obtain updated interior photos. On the Elm Street property (25-002158) staff reported the property was under contract and a prospective buyer told staff they planned demolition; the buyer addressed the board and asked for additional time to finish closing paperwork.

Implementation and next steps

- Civil penalties ordered will continue to accrue until compliance dates specified by the board, and the board noted that the city may perform work and bill owners where owners fail to secure or demolish structures.

- Several demolition orders are subject to the owner’s right to appeal: the board noted appeals must be filed in district court within 30 days of notice of the board’s decision.

- For properties ordered to repair, staff specified timeframes for plan submission, permit acquisition, rough-in inspections and final inspections; the board left those timelines as the staff recommended deadlines.

Quotes

Ricky Wright, property maintenance inspector for the city of Abilene: "We have not had any further contact" with certain owners after prior orders, and on several properties "it's been just clean up" rather than substantive repairs.

Bobby Gaines, owner of the Elm Street property: "Just need a little more time for him to finish up the paperwork and stuff, and then it's his house, and I'm out of it." (addressing the board about a pending sale)

Background

Wright told the board the meeting began with eight cases on the original agenda; staff presented six and noted two were pulled because one owner had obtained permits and another owner signed a mobile home over to the property owner. The board handled each case on the record with motions, seconds, and roll-call votes. Where staff recorded an affidavit of condemnation, Wright said it had been recorded at the county clerk earlier in 2025.

What the board did not decide

- The board did not award contracts, change ordinances, or set new policy beyond applying existing enforcement processes. Several owners were given the opportunity to obtain permits and submit plans rather than having immediate demolition ordered.

Meeting close

After the final vote the board chair declared the agenda complete and adjourned the meeting.