MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Hutchinson City Council approved condemnation action on five residential properties Tuesday while also authorizing bonding for a separate large demolition project and receiving an update on repairs at 17th and Plum.
Council members unanimously approved condemnation resolutions for properties at 102 W. Ninth Ave., 300 E. Avenue E, 315½ N. Cleveland St., 615 E. Avenue A and 1109 N. Elm St.
Building Official Jason Lady said the properties have a range of issues, including long-term vacancy, property-maintenance violations, delinquent taxes, fire damage and inactive utilities.
The city currently has about 20 residential properties moving through the condemnation process. Lady said five or six could potentially be rehabilitated, while approximately 10 others are expected to be placed out for demolition bids.
The city is seeking additional contractors because its regular demolition contractor has struggled to keep up with the workload. Lady said demolition costs can vary significantly, ranging from roughly $6,000 to $7,000 for smaller projects to around $40,000 for more complicated structures.
Council also unanimously authorized up to $235,000 in general obligation bonds for demolition of the condemned church at 211 E. Fourth Ave.
The demolition bid for that property came in at just over $218,000.
Finance Director Angela Richard said the ordinance allows the city to move forward with demolition before the bonds are formally issued. The city expects to package the church demolition with other demolition expenses in a future bond sale, potentially in spring 2027.
Council also received an update from City Engineer Evan Patterson on repairs at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Plum Street following several water main breaks in late July.
The problems included a break on a six-inch main along 17th Avenue and another on a 10-inch main along Plum Street. Crews also discovered that a water valve in the intersection needed to be replaced.
Because the damage occurred shortly before the start of school, the city expedited the street restoration work.
Repairs along Plum were initially estimated at about $160,000. Kansas Concrete submitted the lowest qualified bid at $91,000.
Because of the compressed schedule, the city did not use portions of its normal contracting process. The bid request was sent directly to selected contractors rather than publicly posted, and City Manager Enrico Villegas approved the contract instead of bringing it to the City Council for approval.
Both 17th and Plum reopened after concrete testing showed the repaired sections had reached the required strength.