The City of Sedalia is pursuing bids to demolish a building whose deteriorated condition has led to a closure of a block of Main Street since June.

The city began soliciting bids last Tuesday for the demolition of 207 and 209 West Main, which city engineers say is at imminent risk of collapse. City administrator Matthew Wirt says contractors can submit bids to complete what he calls a “careful, surgical demolition.”

The bids come as building owners Dana Melton and Travis Dixon have lodged an appeal, seeking engineering and attorney fees and to have the city pay for the demolition and backfill of the lot. Their appeal, which also accuses the city of damaging the building’s foundation during sidewalk work in 2022, will be heard Oct. 8. Wirt says problems with the building predate the city’s sidewalk work.

Wirt says bids are due the afternoon of Oct. 29. They’ll be opened that afternoon in the city council chambers at Sedalia City Hall, with the city council expected to award a contract at their Nov. 3 meeting.