City looks to demolish two churches in disrepair
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) - During Monday's 5:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall, the St. Joseph City Council plans to accept two resolutions authorizing the demolition of two area church buildings that are in disrepair.
The first resolution would authorize Courtney Construction, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, to demolish and clear the site of the former Olive Street Methodist Church, located at 902 S. 15th St. at a cost of $44,000.
According to city documents, the structure has multiple ordinance violations including roof, windows and walls in disrepair, missing downspouts, gutters and more. No substantive efforts have been made to restore or stabilize the structure and after holding a public hearing on Sept. 26, 2024, where it was concluded the structure is to be demolished.
The city's Dangerous Building Program allocates funding annually for the demolition of vacant dangerous structures. While typically demolitions funded through the program cost less than $25,000, this demolition exceeds that amount which requires council approval.
Courtney Construction's bid was the lowest the city received.
The second church to be demolished, this time by Madget Demolition, of St. Joseph, is the former First Baptist Mt. Union Church, located at 4604 King Hill Ave., at a cost of $45,000.
According to city documents, the structure has multiple city ordinance violations under the currently used 2018 International Property Maintenance Code of Building Regulations, including a failing roof, badly deteriorated exterior walls, deterioration of the bricks and missing mortar in exterior walls.
Despite being designated as a local landmark, no efforts have been made to restore or stabilize the structure. The city held a public hearing regarding the dangerous building on Sept. 4, 2025, and concluded that it should be demolished.
As with the Olive Street church, because the cost is more than the approved $25,000, the council is required to approve moving forward.
Madget Demolition had the lowest bid received by the city.
Other business
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Council members also plan to authorize an amendment to the capital projects fund and the park sales tax fund budget to execute a contract for the construction of the Hyde Pool and pool house with Royal Construction Services, LLC at a cost of $4,320,000
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The council will hold a public hearing regarding the redistricting of several areas along South 18th Street and Lafayette Street from heavy manufacturing to two-family residential.
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Up for a first reading is an ordinance authorizing the execution of a transportation planning consolidated grant agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in the amount not to exceed $255,457. The city will contribute matching funds not to exceed, $58,877, to assist in metropolitan planning organization transportation planning activities within the St. Joseph urbanized area.
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Also on the agenda for passage or adoption,
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The sanitary landfill bill would commit to a total financial assurance of $19,891,247.03 for closure and post closure costs of the St. Joseph Sanitary Landfill;
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An ordinance authorizing a contract with Madget Demolition for the demolition of the upper portions of the Downtown parking garages at Sixth and Jules streets and at Fourth and Felix streets.
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An ordinance authorizing the shift of $50,000 in funds from the city's Gaming Fund to to the St. Joseph Police Department budget to provide funding for enforcing property maintenance and nuisances codes.
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A resolution authorizing a work order with Auxier Construction Co. in the amount of $92,943 and a purchase order with Herzog Congracting Corp., in the amount of $51,725 for sidewalk and parking lot repairs at the Patee Market Health Center.
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