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Keokuk On Hook For Collapse Clean-Up?

Keokuk, IA – Keokuk could be on the hook for the clean-up of a building, along Main Street, that collapsed last month.

Community Development Director Pam Broomhall says the out-of-town owner of the former Green Tambourine building did not have insurance on the property. She says it also appears that the owner does not have the financial resources to pay for the clean-up.

Broomhall says that means the city will probably be forced to pay for it. She says clean-up will be very expensive because it must be tailored to asbestos removal.

Broomhall says the standard dumping fee for asbestos material is $150/ton. She says there is more than 400 tons of material at the collapse site.

The actual removal of material could cost several hundred-thousand dollars more.

Broomhall says the city will apply for state and federal funding to try to pay for the project. She says a deal will also try to be reached with the Great River Regional Waste Authority about reducing the dumping fees.

Broomhall says the collapse of the Green Tambourine building shows the need for an inspection program for commercial buildings, especially vacant buildings. She plans to meet with Fire Chief Mark Wessel to develop an inspection plan.

Several Keokuk City Council members say the city should require vacant buildings be tested for asbestos.

Council Action

The Keokuk City Council took the following action after its pre-meeting workshop.

* Hired Veenstra & Kimm to perform additional engineering and studies at Victory Park in response to the city's combined sewer overflow project.
* Hired Commercial Contractors of Keokuk to install park equipment ($4,325).
* Approved a change order in the amount of $83,400 for sewer work at Belknap Place.
* Hired Meyers Driveway & Septic Service for additional sewer work at Belknap Place($18,650) and Andrews Plumbing for sewer work at Boulevard Road and Grand Avenue ($17,975).
*Promoted Police Officer Brian DePreist to the rank of Detective and named 1st Ward Alderman Mike O'Connor to the new Lee County Consolidated Dispatch oversight board.