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Portion of McIntosh school collapses; Polk County moves to secure site and seek bids for demolition
Summary
A section of the historic McIntosh school collapsed; county officials said no one was injured, the site was barricaded and the county will seek engineering proposals and bids for demolition and abatement while documenting damages and coordinating with state regulators.
A commissioner reported that a portion of the old McIntosh school (the south end of the early‑1900s structure) partially collapsed on Friday. County officials said no one was injured and emergency personnel secured the site and prevented public access.
The county described immediate actions: barricading the area, documenting damage with video and reports, notifying the state (including MPCA as appropriate) and collecting accounts of property damage from adjacent owners. The board was told debris was cleared from the roadway and staged, and that some personal property and trailers may have been damaged by falling masonry. A county emergency coordinator and the sheriff’s office assisted at the scene.
County staff said they will solicit structural‑engineering proposals to evaluate the remaining structure and to guide demolition plans and bidding. The county is also investigating asbestos and abatement records that could speed clearance; staff asked the heritage group and prior owners for any abatement documentation that might exist. Commissioners discussed options to stage brick and concrete for possible crushing and reuse as road base, subject to PCA approval and environmental controls.
Officials noted the collapse exposed safety risks for public events held at the property and said they will notify neighbors and relevant stakeholders and collect formal damage claims. The board indicated it would return with cost estimates and proposals for contracting demolition and abatement at a subsequent meeting.
