Florence moves toward condemnation of former school buildings
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence City Council moved closer Monday evening to condemnation of the abandoned school buildings between Seventh and Eighth streets in Florence.
The buildings were purchased a number of years ago by Larry and Karen (Noll) Hastings of El Dorado. The area around the former schools been a source of frustration for the city because of neglect and nuisance conditions that steadily have grown worse.
Bobbi Strait, Marion County zoning director recently inspected the buildings and asked the city to cover open windows and doors. The city complied with the request and billed the owners for labor and materials.
Strait was on hand Monday night to present council members with a written report of her findings. She said that in her opinion, the buildings should be condemned and taken down.
Strait reviewed a formula for restoration of facilities such as the former school buildings. The limestone structure could cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1.16 million dollars to put it back into useable condition as either a dwelling or an educational facility.
She was unable to assign a dollar amount to the brick building because the number of dead birds and feces in the building prohibited a thorough inspection of the interior. She told council members such an inspection would be needed.
Strait said that although the city had adequately secured both buildings, it was just a matter of time before someone who wanted in badly enough made them "un-secure" once more.
She also noted that limestone structures which are not maintained have a tendency to collapse.
She told council members her recommendation would be to condemn the properties. The city has adopted state statutes for condemnation proceedings and the statutes require a public meeting in 10 to 30 days from the time the owners receive notification of the process.
Owners Larry and Karen Hastings will have a chance at the public hearing to present reasons why the buildings should not be torn down.
"Condemning a building does not mean it MUST come down," said Strait. "That will be a decision for the council to make after they hear all of the evidence and review their options."
On a motion by councilman Randy Mills and a second by councilman Dan Ludwig, Mayor Greg Winn was instructed to serve notice to the Hastings' that Strait's report recommends condemning both buildings and a public hearing will be scheduled by the city to hear arguments for and against their condemnation and possible demolition. The motion passed 3-0 (councilman Bryan Harper was absent.)
The council also approved a resolution to accept the Marion County Mitigation Plan. The plan is a process to keep the citizens safe in the event of a disaster. Without a plan of their own or acceptance of the county plan the city would not qualify for federal aid if a crisis strikes.
In other business, the council:
— approved a request by Florence Chamber of Commerce to place a barbed wire Christmas tree in the intersection of Fifth and Main streets for the holiday season.
— agreed to pay for flu shots for city employees and firefighters.
— instructed city superintendent Phil Baldwin to get bids to replace the central heat and air unit in the ambulance building.
— asked Baldwin to look into a bid offer made several months ago on the city's oldest maintenance truck. A bid was made, but never honored.
— approved service and repairs for the Toro and Grasshopper mowers.
— approved a request by fire chief Tim Parmley to have the city join a 19-county regional area of support for disaster assistance. Participating cities enroll in the plan in advance of a crisis by offering personnel and equipment within a certain radius in the region. The cities pay any associated fuel costs to transport personnel and equipment, but the personnel do not charge for their service to the regional assistance team. Parmley indicated the Florence fire department would commit to two men, two trucks, and a distance of a 60-mile radius around Florence.
— instructed Baldwin to coordinate an effort to reprogram the warning siren frequency with the radios used by the fire department and weather spotters. Parmley reported the firemen and weather spotters recently have been unable to set off the alarm with their radios.
