Owners of dilapidated Sedalia building files appeal, seeks to prevent demolition

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The owners of a damaged building in downtown Sedalia have filed a lawsuit to prevent its demolition.

Dana Melton and Travis Dixon, according to court filings dated Sunday, have petitioned for an appeal of the Sedalia Board of Appeals ruling from last month saying 207 and 209 West Main St. would be torn down within 60 days unless the owners filed an appeal.

The city is looking to preserve other buildings that could be damaged in if those two were to collapse. A judge ruled in July that the city had the authority to demolish a building within city limits.

A building official had determined earlier this year that the location needed to be demolished to “protect the public,” court documents in previous reporting say. The official claimed the owners had been notified in November 2024 that the roof of the building needed repairs, but failed to do anything about it, previous reporting shows.

Melton and Dixon claimed in their appeal the city and board “each failed to state sufficient facts justifying demolition.”