City commissioners vote to proceed with building demo

Fort Scott City Commissioners on Tuesday approved moving forward with demolition of a set of dilapidated properties on North National Avenue.

Commissioners discussed the future of buildings at 118 and 120 N. National Ave., during their June 7 meeting. At that meeting, they elected to hold off on demolition of the properties until they saw a written plan from local business owner Kevin "Skitch" Allen regarding specific proposals for the properties, which continue to sit condemned.

The city had received five bids for demolition of both structures and commissioners on June 7 had prepared to vote on accepting the low bid of $18,400 from Randy Vilela Demolition of Pittsburg. They tabled accepting the bid until they heard specifics of Allen's plan.

On June 7, Ballou said Allen had expressed interest in the structure at 118 N. National Ave., which City Manager Dave Martin has said is the "least dilapidated" of the structures. Ballou said Allen has purchased the property at 118 N. National.

On Tuesday, Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou said he spoke with Allen "to see where he was at on the two buildings." Ballou told commissioners that Allen informed him he was "working with an engineer" on the property at 118 N. National Ave., but that was "not done yet." Ballou also said Allen told him he was also talking with Johnnie Walker, another local contractor, about salvaging brick from a building at 120 N. National Ave.

Commissioner Jim Adams said he recalled a conversation he had with Walker about a building at 120 N. National and "the building is not brick." Adams said he has the understanding the building is tile and has "no value."

Mayor JoLynne Mitchell said her understanding was that commissioners' actions at their last meeting "required a personal appearance" from Allen or commissioners would go ahead with demolition. Allen was not present at the June 7 meeting and was not at Tuesday's meeting.

Regarding ownership of the structures, Adams said he recently checked at the Bourbon County Courthouse and a quit claim deed has been filed for 118 N. National but not for 120 N. National. Adams also questioned why there would be a plan for one property and not the other.