Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Cleanup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wingate council discusses emergency demolition and cleanup of collapsed Cording Hall
Summary
After Cording Hall’s roof collapsed Dec. 29, 2024, the Town of Wingate confirmed emergency contracting to remove hazardous debris, discussed ownership and enforcement limits, and advised that formal procurement (three written quotes) will be required for cleanup costs in the $50,000–$75,000 range.
The Town of Wingate council on Jan. 21 addressed emergency demolition and cleanup at Cording Hall after the building’s roof collapsed Dec. 29, 2024, sending bricks and debris onto the state highway and creating a public hazard. Town Attorney Stu Weliever said the town used its emergency authority to hire an insured contractor to remove exterior walls.
Weliever told the council the town has cited the property owner (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Wilkison) multiple times since 2020 but that local authority is limited: “the town can only cite and fine the landowner, not seize the property,” he said, describing enforcement options the town has pursued.
Bar owners Wes and Mellisa Null, whose business is adjacent, said a “razz order” had been sent to the owner and asked for copies of recent meeting minutes and involvement in selecting a cleanup contractor to minimize negligence concerns; Weliever said he was not aware of that order. The council confirmed it received a certificate of insurance (COI) for the contractor, Walden, and that the COI is available to the Nulls.
Jay Busse, town maintenance supervisor, told the council he had received a bid for the cleanup but cautioned that state approval may be required for the type of removal proposed. Weliever and Busse explained the procurement rules: for costs between $50,000 and $75,000 the town must obtain three written quotes and accept the selected bid in public.
Council members did not set a firm timeline for completing cleanup; Weliever said he would contact the contractor’s insurer on the council’s behalf. After an at-times heated exchange among attendees, Council Member Curt Hadley ended the public discussion. No formal vote was recorded on the demolition action itself during the meeting; the council noted it would continue work on the site and seek additional information at the next meeting.
The discussion also included a brief review of property ownership: the council was told the parcel was sold at a tax sale two years ago in October, and Weliever summarized the town’s tax-sale process when asked who currently owns the vacant structure.
Next steps the council identified were to obtain required procurement documentation (multiple quotes where applicable), verify state approval requirements for the demolition, review the contractor’s insurance documentation, and report back at a future meeting.
