Council approves $6,500 demolition of long-vacant house at 411 Southeast Fourth Street

The Pryor Creek City Council voted to accept a bid from Tibbetts Trucking for $6,500 to demolish a dilapidated structure at 411 Southeast Fourth Street.

The council listed the cost to be paid from the Real Property Acquisitions/Needs Abatement account (account 464655450). Other bids received were listed in the meeting packet: Wade's Record ($9,800), Grand River Excavating ($14,000), McGourt Trucking ($16,000), and Knowledge Works Environmental ($26,571).

At the meeting the property owner, identified on the record as Eric, addressed the council and said he was attempting to repair the house himself because he could not afford contractors. “To repair it was gonna be $10,000,” Eric said, describing work including about 120 square feet of decking and replacement of a rafter. He told the council he had asked for more time but that previous deadlines had expired.

City code enforcement staff told the council the property had been vacant and without utilities since about 2013 and that internal photos taken by staff showed the interior as “completely uninhabitable.” The nuisance/abatement officer said the city had followed its checklist and the established abatement process; he recommended moving forward with demolition.

Councilmember Brashears moved to accept the Tibbetts Trucking bid; the motion was seconded by Cholla. The recorded vote returned “yes” from Bradshaw, Shropshire, Brashears, Smith and Lamar, and the motion carried.

Council members and staff noted the property’s location adjacent to a park and said long-term neglect had affected neighboring property conditions. Eric said he had attended monthly hearings and had not received certain certified mailings; staff responded that certified mail receipts and posting had been included in the case file.