Illinois City Tears Down Vacant, Dilapidated Homes

City workers in a southern Illinois community are demolishing hazardous vacant homes.

WSIL-TV reports about 10 properties are being leveled after officials said they were safety hazards to neighborhoods.

Mount Vernon City Inspector Derrick Quitisch says some homes had structural issues and collapsing roofs, while others were damaged by fire and were heavily rotted.

The city’s spending about $200,000 on demolition work this year.

Mount Vernon is about 70 miles southwest of St. Louis.