Clearing away debris

Cape Girardeau officials plan to advertise for bids to remove debris from the property at Themis and Ellis streets where an apartment building collapsed almost eight months ago.

Little cleanup work has been done at the property since the front parapet of the building fell to the ground May 9, taking out a bay window and a porch with it. The city immediately condemned the structure because the collapse weakened the building's masonry.

But the property owner, Ann Morales, who lives in South Carolina, said a local contractor she hired never completed the job, and she plans to seek legal action.

"It has been a nightmare," she said. "I've been pulling my hair out over this."

According to Morales, a local contractor, who she would not name, was hired to remove debris from the lot after he bid on the job in November. Morales agreed to pay the man half of the money before began removing debris and the remaining payment when he completed the job.

"When I gave him that first amount, he went through all the money and just walked off the job," Morales said. "I got a hold of him and he said he was going to need more money, so I wired him more money to finish the job."

But the job was never finished.

"I've tried calling him and I can't get in touch with him," Morales said. "I've paid him 50 percent over his original bid, and it's still a mess there."

Steve Williams, who handles condemnation procedures for the city's Planning Services Division, said he's prepared a list of five properties, including Morales' property, which the city will advertise for bids for demolition or cleanup work beginning this week.

The city will advertise for about three weeks before accepting the lowest bid. Williams hopes cleanup work at the Themis and Ellis street property can begin around the middle of February.

Once the property is cleaned, Morales will be billed by the city. The bill can be paid off in its entirety or can be paid off over a 10-year period.

Morales has been very cooperative with the city, Williams said.

"I feel horrible about this," Morales said. "It's been a lot more complicated and difficult process than anyone thinks."

Larry Summary, who owns nearby Otahkian Apartments at 734 Themis St., complained of rats infesting the debris of the apartment building last October. He set out traps and hasn't seen any rats since.

"It's still a real bad eyesore for the city," Summary said about the debris next to his apartment building. "It makes me sore every time I look at it."

Both Williams and Morales apologize for the delay in cleanup.

"I wish we could just go in and clean something up but we can't do that -- it takes some time," Williams said. "Bottom line, it will be cleaned up as soon as possible."

Once the debris is cleared off the property, Morales plans to sell the lot.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246