At its Oct. 6 meeting, the South Haven city council accepted the bid from DRC Inc. (Dave Rettman) for $35,200 to demolish the city-owned building at 401 Oak Ave. This cost includes proper handling and disposal of asbestos in the building, and backfilling the area. The council requested bids from four asbestos-certified contractors and received two bids; the other was from Tom Kramer Inc at $36,000. The estimated start date of demolition is Oct. 12.
The municipal liquor store next door to the building being demolished has been evacuated of anything of value; all vendors have retrieved their property. Once demolition is completed, the council will request bids for repair work on the common wall between the two buildings, to make it an exterior wall.
Since the flood in July (that resulted in four feet of water in the basement of the Muni), the problem of how to pay for this work has been a large issue. The council has received bids for replacement of flood-damaged equipment (covered by insurance) that icludes the boiler furnace, water softener, beer cooler condensers, and electrical work. The city has applied for a loan, and received funds from the League of Minnesota Cities to assist in demolition and wall repair.
The council appointed Norm Bodeker to oversee the work, and get additional bids as needed.
Another public informational meeting will be scheduled after demolition is completed and after quotes are obtained for the wall work, before decisions are made on the future of the liquor store.
Other business
Any unpaid utility bills more than a month overdue, as of Nov. 23, will be assessed to property taxes, collectible in 2016. Each affected property owner will be sent a notice.
There were two fire calls and nine rescue calls during September. The fire department received all the SCBA breathing equipment they ordered.
Seasonal no-parking begins Nov. 1 through April 30; there is no parking on city streets from 2-7 a.m. during this time.
Carol Banken was officially appreciated for her 20-year anniversary working with the city, just before this Oct. 6 meeting.
The next meeting of the South Haven city council will not take place Nov. 3 as that is Election Day.