Allen County commissioners bowed to a plea by potential contractors, all of whom said during a walk-through of the old Allen County Hospital Thursday that including salvage rights with a demolition contract would be to the county’s advantage. IN DEFERENCE to several citizens who had asked, commissioners agreed to permit the removal of flowers and plants from the old hospital lawn to anyone who wants them.
Their reasoning was that if salvage were sold separately by auction, removal of copper wire and pipe, as well as other things of value, likely would scatter asbestos that would have to be removed before demolition could start. Asbestos remediation would be costly, they opined.
Also, to give each contractor ample time to prepare a proposal, commissioners agreed to move the deadline for bid acceptance from Monday to July 10. Bids will be opened during the July 14 commission meeting.
Commissioners each said they had thoughts about what cost would be acceptable, but deferred from mentioning any in public session. In a chat after the meeting, Commissioner Jim Talkington did say that anything above $400,000 might give him pause.
For comparison’s sake, razing the one-story Anderson County Hospital in Garnett cost $250,000.
Two factors will work in the Allen County’s favor. First, will be including salvage rights; second, a change in plans on the county’s part not to have the demolition contractor fill and compact the hole left from removal of basement walls and flooring and stabilizing piers. Commissioners, on County Counselor Alan Weber’s advice, agreed to hire a local excavator to deal with the hole according to engineering specifications that the county expects to have from G&W Foods before demolition is completed.
G&W has agreed in principle to purchase 70,000 square feet of the old hospital site for $29,000 for construction of a full-service grocery store. While a sale contract has not been drawn, commissioners have said at every turn that is their intent. G&W also has filed a letter of intent with the county to build the store.
A second project may come about earlier than originally expected.
Tom Carlson, a Springfield, Mo., developer, was in Iola Tuesday to survey the hospital site, with the expectation of filling what land G&W didn’t purchase with several apartment buildings. If that materializes, full development of the site would be completed more quickly that originally thought.
John Brocker, on behalf of Allen County Realty, agreed to the county shifting gears on salvage rights, which he originally planned to include with an auction of personal property and other things, such as doors, that could be removed easily from the structure. Commissioners sweetened the deal by raising Brocker’s guaranteed take from $600 to $1,500. The guarantee will become moot if auction commission income exceeds the guarantee.
Weber said he expected eight or more contractors to bid on demolition.
Also, they asked Weber to contact Allen County Historical Society to see if there was interest in preserving a handful of plaques and information charts still hanging on the building’s walls. None would be expected to fetch much at an auction, and could add to the historical record maintained by the ACHS.
Commissioners OK changes to hospital demolition
