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Hopkinsville board finds duplex unsafe, orders fine and city cleanup at 736 E. Second
Summary
The Code Ordinance Enforcement Board found 736 East Second Street an unsafe structure, assessed the minimum fine and administrative fee, and approved a motion directing the city to demolish and remove debris after noting partial demolition, exposed interior, and utilities disconnected for years.
The Hopkinsville City Code Ordinance Enforcement Board on June 2025 found the duplex at 736 East Second Street an unsafe structure and assessed a fine and administrative fee, instructing the city to abate the property and remove debris.
Mark DeArmond, code enforcement officer with the Hopkinsville Fire Department, described a timeline of inspections beginning Jan. 31, 2025, and a reinspection on May 8, 2025. DeArmond said the property had been posted with a notice of violation after an initial unsafe-structure checklist and that ownership records showed the property sold to RAC Rentals LLC in February 2025. DeArmond said the structure’s right-side exterior wall had been removed during partial demolition in mid-March and that studs, damaged drywall and construction debris remained in the yard.
"It's exposed to the weather," DeArmond said of the missing exterior wall, summarizing visible hazards. He told the board water had been off to one unit since 2016 and to the other unit since 2019; electric meters were removed in 2019; and gas service had been off since 2020–2021. DeArmond reported the property met 10 of 18 unsafe-structure checklist items on Jan. 31 (55 percent) and 15 of 18 on May 8 (83 percent).
The board voted that a violation existed. The body then set penalties and remedies. By motion and vote the board assessed the minimum fine of $350 plus a $200 administrative fee and approved a motion asking the city to demolish the building and remove additional debris because of trespassing and the hazardous condition.
The board record notes a notice of violation had earlier been mailed to prior owner CGW (listed as CGW/C CTEW in the record) and that the sale required a signed agreement with the city before transfer while an NOV was active. DeArmond said he had given RAC Rentals a printed list of the seven steps required for renovation on March 18, 2025, and that RAC had not submitted a work write-up or otherwise pursued permitting by the May reinspection.
The board chair said the body would enter a written order reflecting the findings, the fine and the cleanup directive; DeArmond and staff will follow up on implementation and any abatement work the city performs.
The board closed the hearing on the case and moved to the next agenda item.
