The owner of Springfield’ Hotel or Terror has turned in thousands of signatures to the city clerk as he fights to keep the city from taking over his property through eminent domain.
The haunted house on Main Street has been family-owned since 1978 and it was started by Sterling Mathis’ parents.
Mathis says he gathered 2,400 signatures, with 1,499 needed.
The city has 20 days to verify the signatures, then city council members can either decide to put the issue on the ballot or repeal the eminent domain process.
The last time this process played out in 2023, council unanimously voted to repeal its decision to use eminent domain.