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Lebanon council approves up to $35,000 from food-and-beverage fund to demolish unsafe portions of 312 East Thompson St.
Summary
The Lebanon City Council voted to authorize up to $35,000 from the city's food-and-beverage fund to demolish unstable portions of the long-vacant Electrochem Building at 312 East Thompson Street; broader restoration would require further appropriations after additional bids and budget review.
The Lebanon City Council on June 23 approved up to $35,000 from the city's food-and-beverage fund to demolish the unusable portions of 312 East Thompson Street, a building long known locally as the Electrochem Building.
The vote authorizes demolition work not to exceed $35,000 and directs staff to begin the procurement process for the demolition contract. The council's action followed a presentation from Derek Warren, who described the city's recent acquisition of the property and initial cost estimates for a broader restoration to convert the structure into a parks storage facility serving Abner Longley Park.
Warren said the city's parks department has been using the building and that a full restoration estimate submitted to council last Friday was "for roughly a, a complete restoration of the building. We're looking at 417,000, and some change, almost 418,000." He added that "adding a fence to that project increases the budget by about $75,000," which would raise the overall project near $492,000 to about $500,000.
Warren described the immediate need for demolition and site work to remove unsightly or structurally unsound portions of the building and to make room for new overhead doors, electrical, heat and roof repair. He said demolition and asphalt quotes are already in hand and that the demolition low quote was $34,002.50 while a high bid from another firm referenced was about $74,000; the council's motion capped the city's commitment at $35,000.
Council members discussed whether to authorize demolition immediately or wait until the council identifies funding for the full restoration. One council member noted that demolition could be started within the contractors' scheduling cycle even if final funding for the whole project is not yet secured. Finance was discussed as a likely short-term funding source: a council member said the city's food-and-beverage balance was about $1,100,000 as of May, and the motion allocated demolition funds from that account.
Council members also debated whether to include a commercial-grade eight-foot fence with automatic gates as part of the project; Warren said roughly $30,000 of the fence's $75,000 estimate would be for additional asphalt work and the remaining roughly $45,000 would be for the fence and gates. Several members said a fence could reduce trespass risks, while others said it might not be necessary if all storage is kept inside the building.
The council took the demolition vote by voice; the mayor or presiding officer announced the motion carried after members answered "Aye." The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally attached to the motion.
Warren and council members said additional appropriation will be required for full restoration work, and that bids or estimates will be collected and presented at a future meeting. The council scheduled its next regular meeting for Monday, July 14, and members said staff will update the council on funding options and next steps before then.
The council subsequently approved routine claims and adjourned the meeting.
