Chapter 237: Buildings, Wrecking of

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed Ord. Nos. 4130, 5097 and Section 6 of 5571.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to engage in the business of wrecking houses or other buildings or structures or any object within the City limits of the City of Parsons, Kansas, without first having made written application to the Parsons City Commission and having secured a license to engage in said business.

Before a wrecking license is issued, the person or entity making application shall have in effect and on file with the City Clerk proof of liability insurance in the amount of $300,000, along with a surety bond in favor of the City in the sum of $5,000, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, conditioned that the principal in the bond will comply with all provisions of all ordinances of the City relating to the wrecking of houses and any requirements contained in the wrecking permits when issued.

Such license shall be issued by the City Clerk and dated to terminate on the 31st day of December of each calendar year and for which said license shall pay a fee of $50. Insurance and bonds shall remain in full force and effect during the duration of the license. Failure to maintain these shall be immediate grounds for revocation of said license.

§ 237-2 Wrecking permit.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to wreck any house or other structure or object as herein provided without first having made a written application to the Building Inspector for a permit, which said application shall accurately describe the house or other structure or object proposed to be wrecked and such information as the City of Parsons may require, and the payment of a fee of $25. Said fee shall by paid to the City Clerk and credited to the General Fund of the City. If more than one structure is requested to be torn down in the permit application, only one fee of $25 shall be required per application. The permit shall only be issued if the proper bonds are in place as required by the this chapter and the applicant has a valid wrecking license issued by the City of Parsons, unless specifically exempted herein. The Building Inspector shall have the right to issue the permit with conditions and requirements the Building Inspector feels are necessary, including but not limited to time requirements to have the structure completely removed by. Failure to comply with these conditions can be grounds for the forfeiture of the bonds required herein.

§ 237-3 Bond.

Before a wrecking permit is issued, the person or entity making the application shall have in effect and on file with the City Clerk all applicable bonds, including those required to obtain a license. Persons or entities exempt from the license requirement shall have in effect and on file with the City Clerk a surety bond in favor of the City in the sum of $100 for garages or similar structures, and $500 for residential structures and churches. Said bonds shall be in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, conditioned that the principal in the bond will comply with all provisions of all ordinances of the City relating to the wrecking of houses, buildings or other structures as well as the conditions contained in the permit when issued, and further conditioned that the City or any person who may deem himself injured or damaged by the principal's failure to comply with such ordinances may sue on such bond to recover the damages. In the event cash is posted as the bond, the City Manager may forthright forfeit the bond for damages created to the City or ordinances or permit conditions not followed, upon written notice to the person or individual who posted said bond. In the event of forfeiture, the party whose bond is forfeited may have this decision reviewed by the City Commission upon written request received by the City Clerk within 10 days of the forfeiture notice being mailed.

§ 237-4 Exemptions.

The following shall be exempt from the requirement of having a wrecking license before a wrecking permit shall be issued:

Plumbers, electricians or other specialized trades for which special licenses or bonds are required;

A person removing or wrecking a residential building, including garage or outbuilding, owned by said person. Said owner can have other individuals assist with said removal as long as said owner is directly supervising the removal by being on site at all times;

A church whose members are removing or wrecking a church building without compensation or payment.

§ 237-5 Sanitary sewer.

All sanitary sewers shall be plugged in a satisfactory manner and before being covered shall be inspected by the Building Inspector of the City of Parsons.