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ELY PRIORITIES

JFK building demolition on top of list

Keith Vandervort
Posted 10/29/14

ELY – Rising demolition costs, increased vandalism and continuing deterioration of the JFK School building are factors School Board members considered this week in prioritizing upcoming facilities …

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ELY PRIORITIES

JFK building demolition on top of list

Posted

ELY – Rising demolition costs, increased vandalism and continuing deterioration of the JFK School building are factors School Board members considered this week in prioritizing upcoming facilities projects.

The School Board has committed $150,000 of the $1 million in taconite production tax funds they received last year as seed money to apply for grant money from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for asbestos abatement and demolition costs of the vacant building.

Chris Ismil, IRRRB community development representative, met with the board in a facilities committee meeting Tuesday and urged them to “get more skin in the game” and show a more financial commitment to raze the building.

The cost to demolish the JFK building is estimated to be about $600,000, including some $230,000 to remove the asbestos in the unused school.

An asbestos abatement expert will inspect the campus next week to provide a clearer picture of the cost for removal, according to Superintendent Alexis Leitgeb. She said the cost of the removal could be covered under the health and safety levy. Facilities manager Jeff Jankowski noted that asbestos, mold and even lead paint removal are covered under that portion of the levy.

Ismil indicated that the maximum IRRRB grant money available for commercial demolition is $200,000. “Getting good sound estimates is really important,” he said. “Let’s assume that the cost is $600,000. My first question is what is the commitment from the district? We do know that cost could be $800,000 in a couple of years. The longer you let that go, the costs are only going to increase.”

He said the board needs to make the decision to put the JFK building demolition at the top of the list for facilities projects. The board has made the decision to put a new roof on the Washington Elementary building at a $500,000 cost.

“The connecting wall is falling apart,” Leitgeb said about the common wall between the vacant building and the elementary school.

“And over the weekend, on Sunday night, we did have a break-in at the JFK,” she said. “A door was smashed and a window was broken. There was broken glass found by the building near the playground that was reported by a parent Monday morning she said. “Nothing was vandalized inside. Beer cans were found outside. It is becoming a focus. People know that its not monitored. I took a walk around it today and it is really starting to look like a blighted area.”

Jankowski said the building is regularly inspected. “We did a walk through Sunday morning,” he said. The incident apparently happened Sunday night.

Ismil also suggested the board look at Community Development Block Grant money that could be available through St. Louis County. “I don’t know if this location is CDBG eligible, but it is something to look at for the asbestos abatement,” he said.

“There is a reason that there are old schools sitting in a lot of towns. There’s not a lot of money out there to help take care of these old buildings. Again, our priority is projects for new development.”

Ismil stressed that he would like to see the district commit more of their taconite tax money to fund the rest of the demolition of the building, minus another grant. “If it costs $500,000, and we grant $200,000, I want to see the other $300,000 commitment,” he said.

“If we were going to give $200,000, and if you put in the $150,000 you said you would, we are already at $350,000. That is a pretty close estimate to knocking down the building without the asbestos (abatement). So the asbestos is really up in the air. That $230,000 estimate is pretty conservative. I can’t see it being higher than that. Let’s say it comes back at $100,000, then you’re going back to the health and safety (levy) as an option, rather than trying to find another $100,000 (in the budget).”

The board will revisit the JFK demolition project at next month’s study session, scheduled for Nov. 17, and could take action by the end of the year.