City staff presented the quarterly demolition report to the Paris City Council at its Aug. 26, 2024 regular meeting, outlining how structures are identified, condemned and removed and providing updated counts and costs.

The report said the city has presented about 255 structures to the Building Standards Commission since 2020; 162 have been demolished following commission orders and 55 remain on the demolition list. In the current budget year staff said the City of Paris has been responsible for demolishing 45 structures; since January 2024 staff said the city demolished 29 structures.

Staff described the condemnation process — staff inspections, owner and lienholder identification, notice placement (orange “dangerous structure” sticker), a Building Standards Commission hearing, and publication of the commission’s order in the local paper — and emphasized that the publication step is a legal requirement. “We do have to publish it in the newspaper. That is state law,” the presenting staff member said during questions from council.

Why this matters: staff told the council that publication and legal-notice costs are a material line-item in the demolition budget and affect how many structures can be removed with the funds appropriated. Staff reported the demolition budget for FY 2024–25 is $150,000 and said roughly $30,000 has already been spent in publication charges through the reporting period; staff estimated the final publication total for the year could reach $35,000–$36,000 once August and September invoices are posted.

Key details and figures

- Since 2020, 255 structures presented to the Building Standards Commission; 162 demolished; 55 remain on the list.
- City of Paris demolished 45 structures in the current budget year and 29 since January 2024.
- Demolition budget (FY 2024–25): $150,000.
- Publication (legal notices) to date: a little over $30,000; estimated final publication cost this fiscal year: $35,000–$36,000.
- Typical contractor cost per residential demolition: about $2,500–$3,000 on average, staff said.
- Staffing: the abatement/demolition team currently includes four full‑time abatement crew members plus the presenting staff member and three officers (eight employees total in the code enforcement/abatement unit).

Staff said they now place vacate orders more often because condemned structures are being occupied by squatters or owners who refuse to leave, and that utilities (Encore and Atmos) are disconnected only after the statutory appeal period ends. If demolition costs are not paid by the owner after the city removes the structure, staff files a lien with the county clerk.

Council discussion focused on whether the publication requirement could be satisfied by online posting instead of a printed newspaper. Staff replied that the publication in a “paper of public record” is required by state law for demolition orders and that some smaller towns without a local paper must publish in the nearest newspaper that qualifies as a public record. Council members directed staff to research whether legislative or legal alternatives exist to reduce publication expenses.

Staff also described operational changes that contributed to higher in‑house demolition capacity: smaller, non‑CDL trailers and a planned one‑ton 4x4 vehicle to access muddy sites, plus a mix of outsourced contractor work and in‑house abatement. Staff said increased Council funding in recent years and new equipment purchases are the main drivers behind the higher demolition throughput.

A councilmember asked whether the city could attract outside contractors to salvage lumber and fixtures; staff said outreach and a posting on the city website have produced interest but “no traction” so far.

Ending

Staff said it will follow up with a more detailed breakdown of monthly demolition activity and any unspent funds before the next quarterly report. Council members asked staff and the city attorney to research whether the publication requirement can be modernized to reduce costs and directed staff to report back.