The front of 207 & 209 W Main in Sedalia, as shown in his photo submitted by the City of Sedalia on July 30, 2025.

The owners facing a December deadline to repair or demolish their building on Sedalia’s Main Street are appealing the order in court.

Dana Melton and Travis Dixon filed their appeal last weekend in Pettis County Circuit Court, seeking a stay on the Sedalia Board of Appeals’ decision Oct. 22 to either make repairs to their building at 207 and 209 West Main within 60 days, or make arrangements for its demolition. In their appeal, the owners contend that sidewalk construction by the city in 2021 and 2022 destabilized the front of the building, and that the city has not provided adequate proof that the building is at risk of imminent collapse. The owners are asking the court to declare the Board of Appeals’ ruling void, and that the city should bear the costs of restoring the front of the structure, which the owners say would cost $139,500. Court records indicate that the owners have filed an engineering report and bids to support their arguments.

Issues with the building came to light following heavy rains in early June that resulted in bricks falling from the façade. Sedalia city officials closed the sidewalk and eastbound lane of Main Street between Kentucky and Osage, before also closing the westbound lane in July. Citing an engineer’s study, the city sought a court order in late July to authorize its demolition. However, a judge ruled that state law already allowed for Sedalia to deem the building dangerous, and that the city did not need to go through the courts to pursue that designation. After October’s appeals board vote, new barriers were installed to allow traffic to resume using Main Street. Melton and Dixon argue that the new barriers counter the city’s claims that their building was at risk of imminent collapse.

A court date has not been set to hear arguments.