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Owner signs demolition contract for condemned Robert Court house; city retains enforcement options
Summary
City staff reported the owner of the condemned house at Robert Court has a demolition contract and plans to remove the structure beginning March 31; the city confirmed liens are in place and said it will monitor permits, insurance and completion.
City staff told the Belle Isle City Council on March 17 that the owner of a condemned property on Robert Court has obtained a demolition contract and intends to remove the structure at his own expense.
The city manager (speaker 3) said the owner, Bernard, did not pay the previously demanded fines but signed a contract with BAC Trucking and Neck Deep Excavating to demolish the property at 3093/904 Robert Court. The manager read contract terms and said, "If you don't pay, it's coming down," indicating the city stands ready to proceed if the owner does not act. The contract reflected a start date of 03/31/2025 and a completion date of 04/06/2026 as read aloud in the meeting.
Council members asked whether the contractor was licensed and insured; the manager confirmed the contractor has insurance and required permits would be obtained before work begins. The city attorney (speaker 12) clarified enforcement: code-enforcement liens and recorded orders already run with the property, and the city can pursue attorney fees and foreclosure if necessary.
Some commissioners expressed frustration that the city had offered the owner time to become compliant and said they felt misled. "We were conned," Commissioner Smith (speaker 7) said, adding the council should not waive fines without the owner's full compliance. Staff said they would press the contractor and owner to meet the contract schedule and that the council could revisit code-enforcement fines and liens if needed.
No new formal vote was required to accept the demolition contract; staff said they would monitor permits and progress and return to the council if further enforcement decisions were required.
