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HANNIBAL, MO. -- UPDATED: April 2 at 6:30 a.m.

The city of Hannibal is cracking down on the owners of a crumbling hotel.

A public hearing on the status of the old Maryland Hotel in downtown Hannibal is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.tonight at city hall during the city's building commission meeting.

According to a public notice, the property's California owners have been asked to appear and explain why work has not begun to either recondition or demolish the building.

You'll recall in December the city filed a state court action against the owners of the hotel for maintaining a public nuisance.

The building is located next door to City Hall on Broadway.

In the past the owners have attempted to give away the building to the city to create a parking lot.

But that offer was refused because the city had no money to tear it down.

Click here to read more in the Hannibal Courier Post. 

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Original Story: March 9, 2012

Hannibal residents will soon hear more on the old Maryland Hotel in downtown Hannibal which has been declared a public nuisance by the city.

The public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 2 at city hall and will go hand in hand with the April Building Commission meeting.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reports that the property owners, Jim and Sheryl Love of California, will be asked to appear and explain why work has not begun to either recondition or demolish the building. Click here for more from the Courier-Post's Danny Henley.

It is unsure if the property owners will make an appearance, but the Building Commission has plans to move forward with the April 2 hearing.

City Attorney James Lemon filed an action in 2011 against the Love's in state court for maintaining a public nuisance. “Since we’ve elected to use the civil process which is circuit court, I think we need to go ahead and let that run its course,” Lemon told the Courier-Post.

The Building Commission may or may not choose to put the property on the pending demolition list or take further action outside the civil process that has already begun.

Are you in favor of renovation or demolition in the case of the old Maryland Hotel? Post your comments below or on our Facebook page here.