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Council lays over appeal over boarding charge after arson-damaged building; owner disputes billing
Summary
A property owner disputed a $654 special assessment for securing a fire-damaged building at 992 Arcade St.; after testimony and staff discussion the council laid the appeal over two weeks for follow-up documentation and clarification.
The St. Paul City Council laid over an appeal of a special tax assessment for property at 992 Arcade Street after the owner disputed the city’s charge for securing doors on a building damaged in a suspected arson.
At the legislative hearing on RLHTA 205306 (item 26) staff reported the building had required securement following a fire, work performed by the city’s contractor on Feb. 21, 2025, and that the total assessment in the staff summary was $654. The property owner, who identified himself as Neng Hu Mo, testified that an officer on scene had told him the city would not charge if he boarded the structure himself, and that he personally closed openings that day. He said he did not understand why the invoice lists city-contracted work.
Department staff explained the sequence as the fire department responding, then police, then Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) and the city’s boarding contractor securing doors and openings; staff said the contractor’s work consisted of screws to secure doors rather than plywood boarding in places. Council members noted a likely miscommunication between the owner and on-scene personnel and asked staff to obtain time-stamped photographs and a clearer sequence of events. Council Member Yeh moved a two-week layover to Sept. 3 to allow staff to assemble inspection photos and related documentation; the motion passed unanimously.
