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Caney Council reviews a dozen condemnation cases; several demolitions ordered, others tabled
Summary
At its May 18 meeting, the Caney City Council held public hearings on multiple condemned structures across town, approving demolition orders for several city-owned and privately owned properties and tabling others to allow owners to pursue CDBG funding or submit remediation plans.
More than a dozen properties were the focus of public hearings at the Caney City Council’s May 18 meeting as the council weighed resolutions declaring structures unsafe and ordering repair or demolition.
The council opened hearings on properties at 100 E Taylor, 115 N Spring, 121 E Howard, 200 W Taylor, 304 N Foreman, 402 N High, 404 N Foreman, 406 N Fawn, 410 S State, 502 N Main and 601 N Foreman. Several items were tabled to allow owners time to pursue Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding or to provide cleanup and demolition plans; others were approved for demolition.
Why it matters: unsafe structures can present immediate public-safety hazards and affect nearby redevelopment. The council’s actions set deadlines for cleanup or demolition, and in several cases identified CDBG as a possible funding source to offset demolition costs.
Council action and outcomes: the council approved condemnations and demolition orders for 121 E Howard and 304 N Foreman (motions carried 3-0). The council also voted to have the city demolish landbank properties 406 N Fawn, 410 S State and 502 N Main by June 18 (3-0 in each case). Several other resolutions were tabled to allow owners to apply for CDBG funds or submit plans: 100 E Taylor (owner reported a State of Kansas lien; tabled to June 1 for follow-up), 115 N Spring (owner requested 90 days; staff cited fallen wall and wind hazard; tabled to June 18), 200 W Taylor (owner said a prior administrator advised against work under the CDBG grant; staff confirmed an application had been sent and tabled to June 18), 402 N High (owner submitted a letter noting planned repairs; council requested a detailed plan and tabled to June 18), 404 N Foreman (owner awaiting CDBG items or planning self-demolition; tabled to June 18), and 601 N Foreman (owner seeking deed to apply for CDBG or donate to the landbank; tabled to June 18).
What owners and staff said: at 100 E Taylor the owner/agent told council she had a buyer but that a State of Kansas lien existed; staff advised contacting the State and Mayor Elliott collected contact information to assist. For 115 N Spring the owner argued the structure’s walls were "strong and secure" and requested 90 days; staff said parts of the wall had already fallen onto another property and posed a wind hazard. For 200 W Taylor an owner said prior city staff had counseled against demolition under the CDBG program, while current staff said an application had been sent and grant funds were available.
Funding and process notes: staff identified the CDBG Housing Revitalization Grant as a funding source for some demolitions and said applications had been submitted in several cases; where a property is in the city’s CDBG target area (for example, 406 N Fawn and 502 N Main) staff said paperwork was ready to forward to South Central Kansas Economic Development for CDBG-funded demolition. In several tabling motions the council set a June 18 check-in or deadline.
Next steps: owners who were given time were asked to pursue CDBG applications or provide demolition plans by the specified check-in dates; the council will revisit the tabled resolutions on the June 1 or June 18 agenda as noted.
All recorded motions on condemnations at the May 18 meeting carried on unanimous recorded votes (3-0).
