The Greenwood City Council cleared the way on Tuesday to demolish dilapidated apartments at 325 Elm St.
The council approved the move Dec. 7. Community development director Betty Stigler gave a recommendation then for removal.
City Attorney Don Brock confirmed there were no legal hurdles to demolishing the property.
“During a time examination, at least in the (last) five years, there was no lender involved, and (the property) changed hands about three times,” he said.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams, who described the area as “awful-looking,” said the approved quote for bringing down the property was about $19,000.
Also Tuesday, the council approved several budget adjustments, which are transfers of funds only and do not constitute an increase or decrease in the overall budgets for the departments:
- For the wastewater treatment department, a total of $1,040 was transferred from the administration budget to the clerical budget.
- The mayor’s contingency fund decreased $2,080, and that money was transferred to the recycling payroll fund.
- The Public Works Department transferred $6,580 from its machinery and equipment budget to the clerical budget.
In other business:
- McAdams said that notices have been sent for state income tax returns that will be garnished to pay back fines to the city.
She said the notices went only to those who owed money and were receiving state returns. She said the total debt that can be claimed is $182,682.
- The council went into executive session to discuss a class-action lawsuit against manufacturers of opioids. No action was taken during the session.
Greenwood is one of many plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which Brock said alleges the manufacturers were not being “good corporate citizens” and they knew their drugs were being abused nationwide, causing expenses for city and county governments, jails, hospitals and other institutions to deal with the fallout.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
