More houses razed as part of Poplar Bluff cleanup program

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Nearly six years ago, the city of Poplar Bluff started a cleanup program to remove dilapidated houses from neighborhoods.

Property owners were notified to appear before the Poplar Bluff Building Standards Board and were given time to make improvements to the houses or have them removed. Structures declared to be dangerous have been ordered to be demolished following compliance hearings. They were taken down by the city or the owners.

Recently, six houses were demolished, pushing the total to 101.

Because the owners refused to take any action, the city ordered the houses to be demolished. The city hired Gary Dornin and Kevin Williams to do the demolition and removal work.

"This cleanup work is very important for the city and the neighborhoods," city planner Dennis Avery said. Funds to finance the demolitions are included in the city budget.

"I wish we had more funding," said Avery, who said the demolition cost will be added to the tax bill of the property owners and attached as a lien against the property.

City building inspector Fred Crook continually adds houses to be scheduled for compliance hearings before the Building Standards Board.

"We continue to work through the process as long as properties get into a condition like these homes. We have more houses we are working on," Avery said.

There were eight more houses under consideration during the July meeting of the Building Standards Board.

Eleven other houses have been removed through the city's flood buyout program, including 10 in 2010 and one in 2009.