The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published March 14, 2018

City looking to demolition grant

CAMDENTON – The city is looking to add its name to a list of others for a possible demolition grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Each year the State of Missouri Department of Economic Development administers a Community Development Block Grant for the elimination of slum and blight.

The Board of Aldermen have discussed this in the past and may now be able to participate in the voluntary demolition program. If all works out, the city would receive grant funds that would allow property owners to demolish abandoned, dangerous and blighted structures.

Some of the financial aid for demolition has to be paid by the city with $10,000 cash and $13,200 of in-kind materials and labor. Property owners must be willing to pay a minimum of $500 towards the demolition but they will retain all property rights after the work is completed.

A public hearing with the Planning and Zoning Commission was scheduled for last night (March 13).

Once the hearing is complete then the Board of Aldermen will vote to approve the grant application. That is scheduled to take place at the next board meeting on March 20 since the application is due by April 2, 2018.

If the grant is awarded it could result in $125,000 for the demolition program.

If the funds are received the program may not be done this year but the city should budget for it in 2019, City Administrator Jeff Hancock said.

The program is primarily aimed at addressing residential structures, although limited commercial participation is allowed. No more than one commercial structure shall be included in the program, according to the guidelines.

In order for property owners to meet the guidelines for grant money, the following must apply: Dilapidation, Vacancy, Clear Title.

• Dilapidation - The structure must be identified as dilapidated by the Building Official. Before any structure can be demolished, an official finding of “dangerous building” or violation of property maintenance code warranting demolition must be found.
• Vacancy - Structures also must be determined to be vacant for 12 months prior to the submittal of the grant application to OED on April 3, 2018. Vacancy will be determined through only base charges on city utilities for a period extending back to at least April 1, 2017. If vacancy cannot be determined by city utilities, electricity usage will be evaluated.
• Clean Title - Structures must have clear titles. If lien is found after inclusion in project, an official letter from the lien holder, signed by the highest authoritative figure (i.e. bank president), approving the demolition of the structure.

If the grant is received it could also help contractors earn money by salvaging materials, along with getting paid for the demolition.

“The salvage rights, and any monetary value, to structures included in this demolition program will be given to the demolition contractor selected for this project. The contractor is free to keep money earned from salvaged materials or to adjust his bid price accorded to estimated salvage value. The City of Camdenton and the owner of the structure waive all right to salvaged materials when demolition agreement is signed. Any salvaging of materials, before or after the demolition agreement is signed, must be done in compliance with all environmental regulations, included lead paint and asbestos.”

The city made the first move last week by approving a resolution supporting the idea. There have already been numerous property owners that have come forward wanting to participate in the program, if funds are received.