Jefferson City Council delays Capitol Avenue demolition decisions, approves 2023 budget
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
After a more than three-hour meeting, the Jefferson City Council unanimously decided on Monday to delay any decision to demolish 11 properties on or near Capitol Avenue for another four weeks while the city finds interested bidders.
The City Council were going to vote on whether or nor several properties would be demolished. Allstate Consultant engineer Dave Weber gave a presentation detailing the state of the properties. All were determined to be unsafe and uninhabitable.
The properties included: 109 Adams St., 113 Adams St., 401 E. Capitol Ave., 409 E. Capitol Ave., 413 E. Capitol Ave., 419 E. Capitol Ave., 429 E. Capitol Ave., 114 Jackson St., 410/416 E. Capitol Ave., 415 Commercial and 517 E. Capitol Ave.
The total costs for repairing the properties enough to make them safe for living is $4,263,003.77, which Weber said was a conservative amount. Weber and City Attorney Ryan Moehlman said during the meeting that the cost to repair each building would likely cost three-to-five times as much.
Most of the issues with the buildings were similar: Deteriorated walls, foundation issues, water damage, fire damage, unsafe floors, etc.
Several residents spoke during the meeting about wanting to preserve the properties and claimed investors would want to buy the properties and fix them.
The council unanimously approved to make the minimum bid for each property to be at least 15% of the market value.
The council also unanimously approved the city budget for the 2023 fiscal year from Nov. 1, 2022-Oct. 31, 2023. The total budget is $78,632,185. It includes funds from the American Rescue Plan.
Raises for city employees were included in the budget the rate does change from last year .
The council also unanimously approved Bill 2022-07: "Authorizing a Supplemental Appropriation within Sales Tax G Capital Improvement Fund and Defund/Fund Specific Items in the General Fund" to continue paying for its compost site.
The council also unanimously authorized $244,195 for a construction contract with Sam Gaines Construction, Inc. for a concrete street repair project.
The city also approved two appointments: Amanda Williams to the Historic Preservation Commission, who will serve for a full term. The term ends December 2025. Mark McCarthy was approved for the Police Personnel Board for a partial term, ending January 2025.
