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Council authorizes lawsuit to abate long-running nuisance at 916 Elmwood Drive
Summary
After repeated code-enforcement visits dating to 2022, the Edmond City Council directed the city attorney to file suit in district court to abate an ongoing public-nuisance condition at 916 Elmwood Drive; the property owner said he is preparing the house for sale and that his son — previously living there — is now incarcerated.
The Edmond City Council voted April 14 to direct the city attorney to file a petition in district court seeking abatement of a public nuisance at 916 Elmwood Drive, finding that city-ordered corrections had not been completed.
City code enforcement staff told the council that drive-by inspections documented recurring noncompliance beginning in February; a formal case was opened and reinspections found the property remained out of compliance. Staff recommended approval of Resolution 18-25, which finds the public nuisance has not been abated and directs the city attorney to file suit.
Property owner Steve Ferguson addressed the council and said the front-yard abatement work had been completed, that his son (Greg) had been arrested and was incarcerated at the Oklahoma County Jail, and that he and his wife plan to sell the property after performing needed cosmetic repairs. Ferguson asked council to allow sale rather than demolition and said three potential buyers had expressed interest.
Council members expressed frustration with repeated assurances and a long history of noncompliance going back to 2022. In response to a council question, the city attorney explained that a petition (in rem, filed in the property’s chain of title) remains with the property if sold; a subsequent owner would be added to the lawsuit and might resolve the matter by abating the nuisance, at which point the city could move to dismiss the suit.
A majority of council members said they had given the owner multiple opportunities and that prolonged noncompliance had become a health and safety concern for neighbors; council voted to approve Resolution 18-25 and directed the city attorney to file the petition in district court.
