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Record of Proceedings

May Board of Appeals Meeting - 2025-05-30: Property Safety & Demolition Hearings

Boards & Commissions — Friday, May 30, 2025
BodyJoplin, Missouri
SessionBoards & Commissions
DateFriday, May 30, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We'll go ahead and call the May Board of Appeals meeting to order.

0:03

First order of business is roll call.

0:05

Mr.

0:06

Brown.

0:06

Present.

0:07

Mr.

0:07

Windsor.

0:07

Here.

0:08

Mr.

0:08

Wagner.

0:09

Here.

0:09

Mr.

0:09

Duncan?

0:10

Here.

0:10

Mr.

0:11

Wickland.

0:11

Here.

0:12

Mrs.

0:12

Harrington.

0:13

Here.

0:14

We just were handed uh revised minutes.

0:17

I know no one's had a chance to look at them.

0:19

The ones that we were given were missing some pages, so we might look at that towards the end of the meeting if we have time.

0:26

Just wanted to acknowledge uh Mr.

0:28

Wagner's efforts on the board.

0:31

He's been on the board.

0:32

His term is expiring, and appreciate all your uh dedication and time here.

0:38

Thank you.

0:38

Well appreciated.

0:39

Thank you.

0:46

We'd like to go ahead and start with item uh 3114.

0:50

If you could come and uh excuse me, 311.

0:56

Give us your name and address and tell us a little bit about the property, please, sir.

1:00

Good morning.

1:01

My name is Jim Sanders.

1:02

I am an attorney from Henshaw and Colbertson uh representing the current property owner uh which is Angel Oak and their uh servicing company, which is phase servicing.

1:13

Uh the address is 1220 uh Northwest Murphy.

1:18

This is a uh I believe approximately 20-acre plot of land.

1:23

Uh and my understanding is that it was the former home of a uh high temperature insulation company called American Fibre.

1:32

Uh they went under a few years ago, got foreclosed on.

1:38

My understanding is they had some litigation issues involving injuries at the facility, um, and and possibly some other matters as well.

1:45

They were foreclosed on by our client, the lender, um, and the lender has been actively seeking a buyer uh for the property.

1:55

They had one lined up uh, and my understanding is financing fell through for that buyer.

2:00

They've got another buyer that they're hoping to get pen to paper with in the coming days or weeks, uh, looking at a 45 days to uh to closing from date of signing to closing.

2:12

So uh assuming the timeline that I've been provided goes forward, we can expect signatures in the next week or two, uh closing before the end of July.

2:22

Uh that sale would be for $365,000, as is the prospective buyer is aware of the current condition of the property.

2:32

My understanding there's uh some insul or not insulation, but fiberglass left behind uh at the property, and that's what precipitated you know the board's attention.

2:42

Is the potential new buyer aware that the property is on our agenda?

2:47

Yes, they are aware, and that that's the really the impetus for the sale price being only three hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars.

2:55

They understand there's going to be some significant remediation expenses due to the material that was left behind uh you know for a 20-acre plot of land uh back when the facility was operational.

3:06

Uh our understanding was that the facility added it's in its improved state was worth about 3.6 million dollars.

3:14

So this is a very significant haircut for the for the lender, but obviously they're not in a position to uh to move forward themselves with rehabbing it, hence the the intent to sell at our last meeting.

3:29

Uh the realtor that was is representing it was here, and uh and what was discussed quite a bit was the openness of the building really lends it to being a dangerous building in our eyes, and uh would be very easy for not only vagrants but children to get in there.

3:52

Uh they're just I mean you don't have to pardon me.

3:56

It's definitely a fire hazard.

3:58

Um, and that was our concern.

4:00

We were actually prepared to even have hold a dangerous building here and ordering it demolished at that time.

4:06

We could have that was one of our options last time.

4:09

Obviously, nothing's happened between our last meeting and this meeting, it's been over four weeks.

4:14

Uh one of the things we could do is order it uh secure, boarded up.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Property Disputes██████████████████████████████████████38%
Building Code Enforcement██████████████████████22%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Procedural██████████████14%
Real Estate Transactions███████7%
Floodplain Management█1%
Affordable Housing█1%
Economic Development█1%
Summary of Proceedings

May Board of Appeals Meeting - 2025-05-30

On May 30, 2025, the Board of Appeals convened to address a series of dangerous building cases, property safety concerns, and progress reports. The meeting featured extensive discussion of a high-profile 20-acre former industrial site and several other properties facing demolition or required repairs. Roll call was taken with all members present (Mr. Brown, Mr. Windsor, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Wickland, Mrs. Harrington). The board acknowledged Mr. Wagner's expiring term and thanked him for his service. Revised minutes were tabled for review at the next meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3114 – 1220 Northwest Murphy Boulevard: The property, a former high-temperature insulation factory (American Fibre) on approximately 20 acres, is owned by Angel Oak (lender) and serviced by Phase Servicing. Attorney Jim Sanders (Henshaw & Colbertson) represented the owner. The property has been vacant since 2020, with significant deterioration, open access, and reports of homeless encampments. The owner is seeking to sell the property for $365,000 (previously valued at $3.6 million improved) to a buyer (Davis Electric, an electrical contractor from Nixon, Missouri). The buyer has inspected the property three times. The board expressed strong concerns about public safety, especially the risk of injury or fire. Board members noted the property has been in poor condition for years and that the owner had not secured it. The broker, Kevin Ban Story, and attorney argued for a 30-day continuance to complete the sale, but the board was skeptical given past failures. After further discussion, the board proposed a two-week deadline to produce a fully executed contract with a plan to secure the building to city standards. If no agreement is reached by June 13, the board will hold an emergency demolition hearing. The item was also continued to the June 27 meeting for a progress report and demolition hearing. The motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3090 – 512 West 20th Street (1702 Wall LLC): Jason White reported interior work (studs, floor joists, plumbing removal, exterior sheeting, securing doors). Weather delays have slowed progress. The board continued the item to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3105 – 1608 South Minnesota: Britt Hale reported that engineering reports are complete, awaiting sign-off on a floodway removal and a building permit application. The house is secured. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Items 3015 & 3016 – 117 & 121 South Bires: The owner reported the north building is approximately 80% complete (painted, LVP, cabinets, appliances delivered), and the south building is progressing (painted, flooring, fire suppression line installed). The permits expire in June. The board continued both items to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3114 (815 South Ohio): The owner has paid past lien fees and applied for a city demolition grant through the ARPA program. The building department is approving the grant, and the city will proceed with demolition. The board voted to remove this item from the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3104 – 1909 West 15th Street: The owner reported weather delays for pouring a footing. The board requested photos and a detailed progress report. The item was continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3120 – 530 East 7th Street: Angel Brown reported that her ex-husband is obtaining bids for demolition. The building is secured. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3002 – 3001 South Windfield: Annabel Lopez reported that the electrical rough-in passed, but the permanent power cannot be hooked up until HVAC rough-in is complete and passes inspection. The owner needs approximately three months to fund the HVAC system. The board extended the permit to August 22, 2025, and continued the item to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed with one nay.

  • Item 3108 – 519 North Pearl Avenue: Caleb Adams reported he will obtain a permit next week and expects two months of work. He also listed the property for sale. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3085 – 1616 South Pearl Avenue: Thomas Hollerman reported that flooring and cabinets are being installed, and final inspection is expected soon. The board voted to release the item from the agenda due to near completion. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3033 – 1010 West Third Street: No progress reported; no contact with owners. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3112 – 2408 West Forest Street: The owner is working on a full restoration permit, with a plumber and mechanical contractor secured. The roof has collapsed in the front. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3117 – 1248 South Roosevelt Avenue: The property is for sale; the owner (Michael Forrest) will board up broken windows and secure doors. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3118 – 115 North Galena Avenue: The property was burned; letters sent, no response. It is secured except for a hole in the roof. The board continued to June 27 for a demolition hearing or progress report. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3119 – 2341 East Zora: Maybury Construction closed on the property in April, pulled a permit, and boarded it up. The board voted to release the item from the agenda. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3121 – 714 East Hill Street: New business. The property has been on the agenda since 2019. The owner's daughter is in school and plans to pull a permit by July. The property is boarded but has significant interior damage. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Item 3122 – 230 South Oak: New business. The property is owned by former building inspector Steve Cope. The back shed carport has collapsed. The owner was not present. The board continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing, with a letter to be sent. Motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3114 (1220 NW Murphy): Board ordered the owner to produce a fully executed contract and a plan to secure the building within two weeks (by June 13, 2025). If not, the board will call an emergency demolition hearing. The item was continued to June 27 for a progress report and demolition hearing. Motion passed unanimously.
  • Permit Extension for 3001 South Windfield: The permit was extended to August 22, 2025, and the item continued to June 27. Motion passed with one nay.
  • Items Released: 815 South Ohio (item 3114), 1616 South Pearl (item 3085), and 2341 East Zora (item 3119) were all released from the agenda due to pending demolition or near completion.
  • All other items were continued to the June 27, 2025 meeting for progress reports and/or demolition hearings, with motions passing unanimously.
  • Minutes: The board tabled approval of the revised minutes until the next meeting.

Meeting Transcript

We'll go ahead and call the May Board of Appeals meeting to order. First order of business is roll call. Mr. Brown. Present. Mr. Windsor. Here. Mr. Wagner. Here. Mr. Duncan? Here. Mr. Wickland. Here. Mrs. Harrington. Here. We just were handed uh revised minutes. I know no one's had a chance to look at them. The ones that we were given were missing some pages, so we might look at that towards the end of the meeting if we have time. Just wanted to acknowledge uh Mr. Wagner's efforts on the board. He's been on the board. His term is expiring, and appreciate all your uh dedication and time here. Thank you. Well appreciated. Thank you. We'd like to go ahead and start with item uh 3114. If you could come and uh excuse me, 311. Give us your name and address and tell us a little bit about the property, please, sir. Good morning. My name is Jim Sanders. I am an attorney from Henshaw and Colbertson uh representing the current property owner uh which is Angel Oak and their uh servicing company, which is phase servicing. Uh the address is 1220 uh Northwest Murphy. This is a uh I believe approximately 20-acre plot of land. Uh and my understanding is that it was the former home of a uh high temperature insulation company called American Fibre. Uh they went under a few years ago, got foreclosed on. My understanding is they had some litigation issues involving injuries at the facility, um, and and possibly some other matters as well. They were foreclosed on by our client, the lender, um, and the lender has been actively seeking a buyer uh for the property. They had one lined up uh, and my understanding is financing fell through for that buyer. They've got another buyer that they're hoping to get pen to paper with in the coming days or weeks, uh, looking at a 45 days to uh to closing from date of signing to closing. So uh assuming the timeline that I've been provided goes forward, we can expect signatures in the next week or two, uh closing before the end of July. Uh that sale would be for $365,000, as is the prospective buyer is aware of the current condition of the property. My understanding there's uh some insul or not insulation, but fiberglass left behind uh at the property, and that's what precipitated you know the board's attention. Is the potential new buyer aware that the property is on our agenda? Yes, they are aware, and that that's the really the impetus for the sale price being only three hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. They understand there's going to be some significant remediation expenses due to the material that was left behind uh you know for a 20-acre plot of land uh back when the facility was operational.

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