WHEELING, W.Va. –

A trial that was to be held Monday in Wheeling Municipal Court was delayed by Judge Donald Nickerson after the owner of the former Rogers Hotel, Mark Jaber, did not have legal counsel to represent him.

The dispute between Jaber and the city goes back nearly two years when city inspectors issued a raze or repair order on the hotel.

City Solicitor Rosemary Humway-Warmuth said in the hearing that the city is still willing to work with Jaber to get a scope of work and a time frame set to repair or demolish the building, which has sat vacant for nearly 25 years.

"We really try to settle these out of court," said city inspector Frank Wilson. "We would rather the owner put the money towards the building to get it up to code than to pay a fine for not having it up to code."

Nickerson set a tentative hearing date for mid-February, when it will be decided whether or not the issue of a building code violation will go to trial, or if there will be a change of plea.

Stick with NEWS9, wtov9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage.