Claremore council upholds city manager on dilapidated properties at 503 and 505 Will Rogers

The Claremore City Council voted to uphold the city manager’s finding that two properties owned by Compass Church LTD — 503 and 505 East/West Will Rogers (addresses in meeting materials) — are dilapidated and may be abated under city ordinance if the owner does not comply within the time allowed.

Why it matters: The ruling gives the property owner a defined period to either bring the structures up to code or have the city demolish them and place a lien on the property for abatement costs. Council action concluded a formal appeal process after staff inspections and a city-manager hearing.

Staff case and evidence: The city’s presentation included letters and exterior inspections from the fire marshal and building-inspection staff describing unsecured openings, broken windows, roof damage and long-term lack of utilities. The file presented to council included photographs and a utilities timeline showing that one property had not received electric service since about 2018 and the other since about 2001. The city representative said those records and dated photographs were part of the city manager’s record supporting a finding of dilapidation.

Owner’s response: Owner representative Chris Clark and property owner David Polk addressed the council. Polk said the smaller structure (505) was already “probably 75% already torn down” and that crews were hauling debris and replacing windows and other elements. Polk told the council he had resumed more intensive work in the past two months and asked for time to finish repairs on the larger building at 503. He said crews had replaced windows with a corrugated plastic (described in the record as “coroplast”) and that he was committed to making the building safe and usable.

Technical issues and code path: City staff said an engineering or structural assessment would be required to determine whether the larger cinder-block structure could be safely rehabilitated; building official testimony noted possible cracked block and an upper band that may affect structural integrity. Staff reiterated that the city manager’s order provides a compliance window (90 days in the city manager’s letter) during which the owner may either complete the required remediation and permit work or demolish the structures. If the owner does not comply, the city may abate the nuisance and assess the cost as a lien on the property.

Council action: After discussion the council moved to uphold the city manager’s determination. The motion was seconded and adopted on a roll-call vote. Council members and staff reiterated the city’s preference that an owner complete corrective work but that the ordinance empowers the city to remove dangerous structures and recover costs if necessary.

Context and costs: Staff and council members discussed that long-term deterioration, utility disconnection and repeated prior complaints in the file informed the city manager’s conclusion; the city provided examples and said restoration costs can exceed the cost of demolition in cases of major structural damage. The owner referenced a prior local demolition (the “Pink House”) as an approximate comparison of possible costs but did not present a fully itemized remediation budget in the hearing.

What comes next: The city manager’s order stands. The owner may complete demolition of the smaller building and continue repairs on the larger building; if the work is not completed within the period specified in the order, the council has authorized the process for city abatement and lien assessment.