Company approved for Western Building clean up

Fort Scott City Commissioners have approved building plans regarding future development of the old Western Insurance Building in downtown Fort Scott.

During their Tuesday meeting, commissioners approved agreements with Industrial Wrecking Co., Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., regarding work on the two side-by-side towers, which includes removal of hazardous waste from both the primary historic structure and the non-historic structure to the west of that building, interior demolition, environmental abatement, the physical demolition of the non-historic structure, and roof patching.

City Attorney Bob Farmer informed commissioners that the Kansas City-based Flint Hills Holdings Group, LLC, the property development company that purchased the long-vacated, dilapidated building in June for one dollar at a local tax sale, cannot move forward with their plans for the buildings until all environmental issues have been cleaned up, and until they determine if they have been approved for tax credits the developers plan to apply for in February 2015.

"They can't do anything yet," Farmer said.

The developers' plans involve converting the property to about 40 senior living units. The development company works with historic buildings.

The building has sat idle for years and city officials said it is full of mold and asbestos.

The total project cost is estimated to be about $9 million, of which the city plans to pay about $1 million for environmental cleanup and demolition work. Cost estimates provided by Industrial Wrecking Co., Inc., for an environmental survey, asbestos and hazardous waste removal, complete tear down of the west tower and interior demolition of both towers, are $984,500. Flint Hills Holdings Group is funding the remainder of the investment.

Farmer said during the meeting that Flint Hills Holdings Group has worked with Industrial Wrecking in the past and recommended the company.

"We checked the company out and they do good work," he said.

City officials have said that city funds used for the project will come from existing sales tax revenues set aside for capital improvement projects. The project will not require additional costs to residents.

"In essence, this is our part of the development," Farmer said.

Farmer said before the developers can begin the project, "they have to have a clean box," with only the concrete shells of the structures left standing.

"It must be just the structure; no wiring, no black mold, no asbestos," he said.

The plan is to demolish the non-historic structure, as it is "no use to the developer," Farmer said.

"They have to clean it first," he said.

Commissioners approved a motion to send the agreements to Flint Hills Holdings Group for review. Farmer said the developers could send the agreements back to the commission if they feel changes need to be made, or they could approve them, which means the agreements would be "good to go," Farmer said.

City officials have said the development company's plan is the best option. Had the developers not purchased the buildings, the city would have had to spend millions more a few years down the road to demolish both properties. The city hopes to begin the abatement and demolition process by October.

Other business

The commission also discussed progress and options concerning the continuing Riverfront Park project and heard a presentation from Jerry Witt, chairman of the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Riverfront Authority. More details on this and other commission business Tuesday will appear in a future edition of the Tribune.

Also, the city recognized various city employees for their years of service. Staff were awarded with certificates and gifts during the meeting. Photos of the city staff who were present at the meeting will appear in Friday's edition of the Tribune.