Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Park Improvements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Swisher council approves asbestos inspection and demolition contract for Downtown Park, delays one garage removal pending ZBA review
Summary
The Swisher City Council approved asbestos testing and a $16,400 demolition contract for two garages and parking work at Downtown Park while deferring removal of a small garage until the Zoning Board of Adjustment reviews a variance request from the property owner.
The Swisher City Council on July 22 approved asbestos inspection services and a demolition contract tied to Downtown Park improvements while delaying removal of a small garage until a zoning board can consider a variance.
The council voted unanimously to hire EnviroNet of Davenport for asbestos inspections and reporting for two garages in the Downtown Park Improvement Project at a cost of $700 (Resolution 49-2024). The vote followed a separate approval of a $16,400 contract with Midwest Demo Contractors, Inc., for demolition of two garages, tree removal and construction of gravel parking (Resolution 50-2024). That demolition vote passed 4–0 with Council member Adam Roeder recorded as abstaining because of a conflict.
Local property owner Richard O’Rourke had requested removal of a small garage in Downtown Park for use on his property at 328 Jefferson Ave SW. Mayor Julie Persons told the council O’Rourke’s property is grandfathered as nonconforming and that the city code prohibits placing an accessory building on a parcel without a primary structure and prohibits front-yard accessory buildings. The mayor said O’Rourke must submit a building permit and a variance request and pay the variance fee before the Zoning Board of Adjustment can be called to consider the matter.
Because of those code and variance requirements, the council instructed that the small garage demolition be postponed until after the Zoning Board of Adjustment meets on O’Rourke’s variance. The larger demolition and related site work will proceed under the Midwest Demo contract.
The approvals were handled during the meeting’s regular business; council members recorded their votes in roll-call form in the minutes. The council did not provide additional public comment or testimony on the asbestos inspection or demolition contracts at the meeting.
The Downtown Park Improvement Project remains subject to the pending Zoning Board of Adjustment decision about the small garage; no demolition of that structure will occur until the board has reviewed the variance request.
