A vacant school building in northern Lee County will soon be no more.
Fort Madison School Superintendent Ken Marang says Hoppe Construction has secured the former Denmark Elementary School with a temporary fence.
He says workers are focusing on the interior of the building at this point.
“One thing they are doing that is different than what other companies have done is they are trying to salvage everything they can,” says Dr. Marang. “That is why their bid was so low.”
The demolition will cost the school district $61,000.
Hoppe Construction has 180 days to complete the project.
Meanwhile, no decision has been reached on what to do with the soon-to-be-vacant lot.
Marang says it has been appraised at roughly $140,000.
At the same time, a group of Denmark residents would like the land to be given back to the community.
The district auctioned items it did not want from inside the school.
Marang says the sale raised about $7,500. That money will be donated to an effort to replace a set of outdoor playground equipment in Fort Madison.
The new Fort Madison Middle School replaced Denmark Elementary and the former middle school.
