Residents and council members called for more transparency and additional inspections of a century‑old community building during the City of Montgomery council meeting on Jan. 13.

At the public‑comment period, Robin Montgomery told the council the building has drawn visitors and regional attention and urged officials to preserve it rather than demolish it. “That place draws people,” Montgomery said, describing past events and a State Historical Commission visit that she said had been impressed with the facility. Shelly Lane, a local resident and former speaker at the EDC workshop, emphasized the site’s historic value and memorial plaque to World War II casualties and urged a community oversight committee including representatives from the EDC and the Montgomery Historical Society.

Those public comments came after council members revealed the Economic Development Corporation had recommended demolition in a prior meeting packet. An unidentified council member said the EDC had “unanimously recommended demolishing the existing structure” (public comment and council discussion). Several council members, while acknowledging problems noted in an initial engineering walk‑through and a mold report, asked staff to obtain second opinions on both structural and mold findings before moving forward.

City staff told the council the initial inspection flagged roof problems, some wall movement and mold indications; staff emphasized nothing in the first reports suggested a catastrophic failure, but repairs and remediation could be needed before any long‑term reuse or renovation. Councilmembers asked for a more detailed plan showing (a) the scope and cost of immediate remediation to allow short‑term use, (b) the cost of full structural stabilization and renovation, and (c) recommended maintenance practices to prevent future deterioration.

Council directed the EDC and staff to develop a transparent process: produce any inspection reports, identify who performed them, and return with price estimates and an oversight approach that would allow community input. Several council members said they supported a limited short‑term remediation so the building could be used while the EDC and council evaluate longer‑term options.

The discussion concluded with staff agreeing to bring back a proposal to the EDC and then to the council with recommended next steps, cost estimates, and whether further, more comprehensive engineering and mold testing is warranted. No binding decision to demolish or renovate was made at the meeting.