At their most recent meeting, the Keota City Council spoke with the new owners of a property at 206 South Ellis Street about tearing down the house. Colleen and Cort Winegard addressed the council about taking down the house through the city’s property revitalization program. City Clerk Niki Osweiler explains Keota started the program in an effort to clean up the city by removing dilapidated or dangerous properties. Keota will demolish the building for the owners, who will then repay the city 25% of the total cost of the work. The city will cover the remainder.

The Winegards, who plan on building a garage on the lot the building is currently on, were given an agreement to sign and return to the city. Osweiler says the building should be removed before the end of the year. Additionally, the council tasked Osweiler to inquire about other dangerous structures in Keota by reaching out to property owners and asking if they would take part in the revitalization program.