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Record of Proceedings

Joplin Board of Appeals Meeting – August 25, 2023: Progress Reports, Demolition Hearings, and Stays Granted

Boards & Commissions — Friday, August 25, 2023
BodyJoplin, Missouri
SessionBoards & Commissions
DateFriday, August 25, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:37:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:03

We'll call the August Board of Appeals meeting to order.

0:06

First order of business is a roll call.

0:08

Mr.

0:08

Brown.

0:09

Present.

0:09

Mr.

0:09

Windsor.

0:10

Present.

0:10

Mr.

0:11

Wagner?

0:11

Here.

0:12

Mr.

0:12

Duncan.

0:13

Mr.

0:14

Tucker.

0:14

Mr.

0:15

Wicklin.

0:16

I believe all three of those have uh given his prior uh warning that they wouldn't be here.

0:22

Do we have a motion to uh approve their or approve their uh absence?

0:27

I'll make a motion to approve their absence.

0:29

Second.

0:29

Motion by uh Mr.

0:30

Windsor, second by Mr.

0:31

Wagner to approve the absence of Mr.

0:33

Tucker, Mr.

0:34

Duncan, and Mr.

0:35

Wicklin.

0:35

All those in favor say aye.

0:36

Aye, those opposed.

0:38

Motion carries.

0:39

Has everyone had a chance to review the minutes of the last meeting.

0:44

We have a motion to approve.

0:46

I'll make a motion to approve last month's meeting.

0:49

Second.

0:50

Motion by Mr.

0:51

Windsor, second by Mr.

0:52

Brown that the uh last month's meetings minutes be approved.

0:55

All those in favor say aye.

0:56

Aye.

0:57

Those opposed.

0:58

Motion carries.

1:00

If you could just come up to the podium, tell us your name, address, and the property you're here to speak on.

1:05

We can get started.

1:09

Morning.

1:10

Morning.

1:11

Dustin Melius here to talk about 1171 1 South Fires.

1:17

Item 3015 3016.

1:23

Can you tell us the progress you made since the last meeting?

1:26

Um minimal still, but we have made some progress.

1:31

Um we've at this point failed multiple framing inspections.

1:35

Be allowed to uh go forth with uh siding windows and stuff like that.

1:40

But uh conversation with uh Tim last week is that we were very close to passing that framing inspection.

1:47

Um we've got all the joists and stuff done that we've got to replace all the rim joys.

1:55

We've gone through and anchored down the whole building because it didn't have any even the old stuff.

1:59

I don't know how the thing sat where it sat.

2:02

There's nothing anchoring the plates to the foundation.

2:04

So was that moved to site or was it built on site?

2:08

I still don't know the answer to that.

2:10

Okay, but uh we've we've raised some footings and you know put some push piers in and replaced lots of joists.

2:20

So uh we've got uh the guys that are installing the windows, they were they got to reframe the windows in one building.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Building Code Enforcement████████████████████████████████████36%
Vacant Building Management████████████████16%
Permit Management████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Property Maintenance██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Property Disputes█████5%
Pending Litigation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Joplin Board of Appeals Meeting – August 25, 2023

The Joplin Board of Appeals met on August 25, 2023, to review progress on numerous properties, conduct dangerous building hearings, and decide on stays for demolition orders. The meeting covered properties across the city, with owners offering updates on repairs, permits, and timelines. The board ordered demolition for four properties after dangerous building hearings and continued many others to the next meeting on September 22, 2023.

Consent Calendar

  • Absences of members Mr. Duncan, Mr. Tucker, and Mr. Wicklin were approved by motion (Mr. Windsor, second Mr. Wagner), all in favor.
  • Minutes of the previous meeting were approved by motion (Mr. Windsor, second Mr. Brown), all in favor.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Randall Switzer, a neighbor of 4002 South Duquesne Road, asked what happens if owners do not attend meetings. The board explained that non-attendance does not prevent demolition orders after proper notice.

Discussion Items

  • 1171 South Byers Avenue (Items 3015/3016): Owner Dustin Melius reported minimal progress, multiple failed framing inspections, and a revised completion timeline of Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2024). He noted the building lacked foundation anchorage originally. The board continued the items to September 22, 2023.
  • 301 South Windfield (Item 3002): The owner (via interpreter) reported that the front porch roof and windows were completed; foundation supports were being installed. Continued to September 22, 2023.
  • 911 West B Street (Item 3011): Owner Philip Fence stated the roof is done and interior 95% gutted; subfloor repairs and framing inspection are next. He estimated completion in about 10 weeks, depending on subcontractors. Continued to September 22, 2023.
  • 2611 and 2621 South Pearl (Items 3026/3028) and 2617 South Pearl (Item 3027): Attorney Jeremy Brown represented the prospective buyer. He explained that a building permit was delayed due to new issues (alley replat, stormwater) and sought reconsideration of the demolition order. The board discussed notice concerns and progress. Two concrete slabs (3026/3028) were continued to September 22, 2023. For the framed structure (3027), the board granted a stay of demolition subject to a signed waiver, requiring within 30 days: a city inspection, a contract for a structural engineer, and a contract for Anderson Engineering to address permit issues.
  • 404 South Moffat Avenue (Item 3048): First appearance. New owner Aurelia (last name not given) described limited weekends work and intent to obtain a building permit. The board continued to September 22, 2023, and advised her to get a city consultation.
  • 130 South Moffat Avenue (Item 2985): Alan Grace and owner Swindy Stevens reported that personal items were removed, subcontractors lined up, and a permit application was obtained. Owner Stevens stated she lost $30,000 in stolen materials and was overcoming personal challenges. The board noted it was the 14th month on the agenda and continued to September 22, 2023.
  • 508 North Cox (Item 3029): Owner David Latham apologized for missing prior meetings after cleaning up extensive hoarding debris. He expressed uncertainty about the cost of full rehabilitation. The board granted a stay of demolition subject to waiver signature, giving him until September 22, 2023, to decide and make progress.
  • Dangerous Building Hearings: Four properties were declared dangerous and ordered demolished after uncontested evidence:
    • 4002 South Duquesne Road (Item 3042): Fire damage, dilapidated condition. Unanimous vote to demolish.
    • 302 South Gray Avenue (Item 3034): Vacant, deteriorating. Unanimous vote to demolish.
    • 304 South Gray Avenue (Item 3035): Same owner, similar condition. Unanimous vote to demolish.
    • 1202 South Murphy Avenue (Item 3043): Fire damage, open structure. Unanimous vote to demolish.
    • 1209 South Jackson Avenue (Item 3044): Abandoned renovation project, attractive nuisance. Unanimous vote to demolish.
  • Other Properties Continued:
    • 302 and 306½ South Connor (Items 2986/2987): Owner making progress (windows installed, wall removed). Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 801, 803, 805 West First Street (Item 2990): Slow but steady progress. Continued to October 27, 2023 (60 days).
    • 1116 South Jackson Avenue (Item 3010): Failed framing inspections but diligent. Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 1010 West Third Street (Item 3033): Owner in talks with city. Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 810 West 17th Street (Item 3039): Building permit pulled, cleanup after fire. Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 221 South Pearl Avenue (Item 3046): No contact from owner. Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 2701 West D Street (Item 3047): Continued to September 22, 2023.
    • 1107 East 34th Street (Item 3049): Mobile home destroyed by fire; landowner separate. Continued to September 22, 2023.

Key Outcomes

  • Demolition Ordered: 4002 South Duquesne Road, 302 and 304 South Gray Avenue, 1202 South Murphy Avenue, 1209 South Jackson Avenue. All motions passed unanimously.
  • Demolition Stay Granted (with waiver): 2617 South Pearl (Item 3027) and 508 North Cox (Item 3029) – owners must meet specific progress benchmarks by September 22, 2023.
  • Continuations to September 22, 2023: Items 3015/3016, 3002, 3011, 3026/3028, 3048, 2985, 2986/2987, 3010, 3033, 3039, 3046, 3047, 3049.
  • Continuation to October 27, 2023: Item 2990 (West First Street).
  • Next Meeting: The board set September 22, 2023, at 9:00 AM for progress reports and a potential demolition hearing. There was discussion about possibly meeting twice a month due to increased workload from ARPA funding, but no decision was made.

Meeting Transcript

We'll call the August Board of Appeals meeting to order. First order of business is a roll call. Mr. Brown. Present. Mr. Windsor. Present. Mr. Wagner? Here. Mr. Duncan. Mr. Tucker. Mr. Wicklin. I believe all three of those have uh given his prior uh warning that they wouldn't be here. Do we have a motion to uh approve their or approve their uh absence? I'll make a motion to approve their absence. Second. Motion by uh Mr. Windsor, second by Mr. Wagner to approve the absence of Mr. Tucker, Mr. Duncan, and Mr. Wicklin. All those in favor say aye. Aye, those opposed. Motion carries. Has everyone had a chance to review the minutes of the last meeting. We have a motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve last month's meeting. Second. Motion by Mr. Windsor, second by Mr. Brown that the uh last month's meetings minutes be approved. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed. Motion carries. If you could just come up to the podium, tell us your name, address, and the property you're here to speak on. We can get started. Morning. Morning. Dustin Melius here to talk about 1171 1 South Fires. Item 3015 3016. Can you tell us the progress you made since the last meeting? Um minimal still, but we have made some progress. Um we've at this point failed multiple framing inspections.

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