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Hopkinsville board finds 165 North McPherson unsafe, orders abatement and maximum fines
Summary
Following an inspection that found structural collapse, missing utilities and open access, the board declared 165 North McPherson unsafe, ordered abatement including the accessory structure and voted to assess maximum penalties and administrative fees.
The Hopkinsville Code of Ordinance Enforcement Board found 165 North McPherson an unsafe structure on May 12 and approved abatement and maximum penalties.
Darnell West, a code-enforcement officer with the Hopkinsville Fire Department, told the board the property—listed to Melissa Lane Morehead—had utilities cut off around 2022, interior ceilings that had fallen in spots, missing electric and gas meters, a hole in the floor where a former floor furnace had been removed, possible bullet/punch damage inside walls, and heavy debris including mattresses. West said certified notices to the property came back as "unable to forward" and that his repeated calls and texts to a family contact were not answered; he added that the property remained open to public access with the door off its hinges.
West read his inspection checklist showing multiple exterior and interior violations and recommended the property be declared unsafe. The board voted to uphold the citation, include the accessory structure in abatement, assess the maximum fine in the ordinance range and a $200 administrative fee, and to proceed with abatement and collection of costs, with the usual notice and posting requirements.
West noted the property had prior grass/trash/weeds cases and that city taxes on the parcel had not been paid since 2015; he also supplied photographs and an inspection timeline dating from March 18 forward. Board members asked staff to place updated checklists and advertising copies into the record.
