Council declares 1406 Warner St. dangerous, clears path for repair or demolition

The Scott City Council on July 20 adopted Bill No. 1421, finding the single-family property at 1406 Warner St. to be a dangerous and substandard building that requires repair or demolition. The action followed a public hearing in which the city presented title information and building-condition evidence.

City Attorney Mary Eftink-Boner introduced a title report showing Joshua T. Martin as the recorded owner and the Bank of Missouri as holding a deed of trust. Code Enforcement Officer Paul Freed testified under oath that photographs taken March 4, 2026, show the house unsecured, broken entry glass, holes in exterior walls, rotted windows and soffits, a sagging roof between the house and carport, yard trash, and interior structural cracks consistent with squatting and vacancy. Building Inspector Josh Braun testified he inspected the exterior visually and concluded the foundation is failing and that the cost to repair would exceed the property's worth (professionally estimated at less than 50% of repair cost).

Council Member Heather Ingvalson moved to find the property dangerous/substandard and proceed with the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with seven ayes and one absence (Mike Rhymer absent). Exhibits 1–6 — including photographs, the title report, the assessor's card and notices mailed to the owner — were admitted into evidence without objection. The ordinance authorizes the city to require repair or to pursue demolition under local code procedures.

The city reported certified-mail notice was delivered to Joshua T. Martin at 1637 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO; Martin had communicated to the code officer that he had hired a contractor but did not appear at the hearing. The Council did not set a demolition date at the meeting; next procedural steps will follow the city's abatement and notice requirements.