It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a just, equitable
and practicable method for the repairing, vacation or demolition of
buildings or structures that may endanger the life, limb, health,
property, safety or welfare of the occupants of such buildings or
the general public, and this Chapter shall apply to all dangerous
buildings, as herein defined, that now are in existence or that may
hereafter exist in the City of Sparta, Missouri.
All dangerous buildings or structures, as defined by Section
505.020 of this Chapter, are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated or demolished as provided herein.
[Ord. No. 452, 7-8-2008]
The Chief of Police shall be the Building Inspector(s) within
the meaning of this Chapter.
[CC 1982 §41.060]
The Mayor shall act as Building Commissioner under this Chapter.
Any owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee, agent or any other person(s) having an interest in a dangerous building as shown by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds of Christian County may appeal such decision to the Circuit Court of Christian County, as provided for in Sections 536.100 to 536.140, RSMo., if a proper record as defined in Section 536.130, RSMo., is maintained of the hearing provided for in Section
505.080 hereof. Otherwise, the appeal shall be made pursuant to the procedures provided for in Section 536.150, RSMo.
In cases where it reasonably appears that there is immediate danger to the health, life, safety or welfare of any person unless a dangerous building, as defined herein, is immediately repaired, vacated or demolished and the property is cleaned up, the Building Inspector shall report such facts to the Building Commissioner and the Building Commissioner may cause the immediate repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building. The costs of such emergency repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building shall be collected in the same manner as provided in Sections
505.080 and
505.090.
[Ord. No. 325 §41.100, 7-2-1991]
In cases, except emergency cases, where the owner, occupant,
lessee or mortgagee is absent from the City, all notices or orders
provided for herein shall be sent by registered mail to the owner,
occupant, mortgagee, lessee and all other persons having an interest
in said building as shown by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds
of the County to the last known address of each, and a copy of such
notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the "dangerous building"
to which it relates. Such mailing and posting shall be deemed adequate
service.
[Ord. No. 325 §41.110, 7-2-1991]
In the event any building or structure is wrongfully demolished
by this City or is demolished without adhering to the procedures provided
in this Chapter, the City shall be liable for damages as determined
by a court of law in a suit brought by the party so damaged.
The owner, occupant or lessee in possession of any dangerous
building who shall fail to comply with the order to repair, vacate
or demolish said building given by the Building Commissioner or who
shall fail to proceed continuously without unnecessary delay; and
any person removing any notices provided for in this Chapter; and
any person violating any other provisions of this Chapter shall be
guilty of an ordinance violation and upon conviction thereof shall
be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day that
a person fails to comply with an order of the Building Commissioner
may be deemed a separate offense.