By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The City of Delavan is working toward razing two houses, one due to its condition and the other to make way for a future expansion of Aram Public Library.
The Common Council awarded a contract to Odling Construction of Delavan in an amount not to exceed $13,875 to raze the house and garage at 220 Phoenix St. at its meeting on May 21. The house has been vacant for some time, according to a memo from Public Works Director Mark Wendorf, and was condemned by the building inspector.
Utilities going to the Phoenix Street house have been disconnected and asbestos materials were removed and disposed of by a city contractor last month. A raze or repair order was issued by the city on Oct. 31, 2018.
The total cost of razing the structures will be paid out of the Community Betterment capital account and is potentially recoverable as a special charge on the property owner’s tax bill.
The council rejected all bids to raze the house at 116 S. Fifth St. as nonresponsive. The city purchased the property for the future expansion of the library. Design concepts for the expansion showed the property was needed to accommodate elements of the expansion and/or additional parking.
The city has already spent $9,840 to remove asbestos from the Fifth Street house, $2,000 of which was recovered by selling salvageable elements of the house.
The city initially received bids for the razing of the house on Nov. 26, but all of the bids were in excess of the expected cost and thus rejected. This was the second round of bids and these bids again were higher than expected with the lowest bid coming in at $19,977. The council chose to reject all bids again.
Alderman Gary Stebnitz said the fire department is interested in using the house for training, which would dramatically reduce the material quantity that would need to be removed and put in a landfill.
Much of the remaining demolition could then be done by city staff, leaving only landfill disposal fees and the costs for removal of roofing materials as direct costs to the city.
See more coverage from the meeting in the June 6 Delavan Enterprise.
