Staff writer
A dilapidated school building the county ended up owning because nobody showed up to bid at a tax sale will soon be demolished.
Commissioners on Monday moved toward making good on a promise Randy Dallke made a year ago when ownership of the abandoned Florence Memorial High School defaulted to the county.
“It is a danger to the health of people down there,” Dallke said at that time. “I think it’s only good judgment that the county makes sure it’s taken care of.”
The county earlier applied for a grant to pay the cost of demolition, but the grant was denied because not all supporting documents were submitted.
A fence was installed on the property last fall to cordon the old school off from a smaller building on the southwest corner of the campus opened as an after-school program by a Florence church. The metal fence separating the buildings is costing the county $180 per month, one factor discussed when commissioners talked about seeking bids to demolish and remove the building.
Commissioners voted to advertise a call for bids to demolish and remove the school with rights to refuse all options.
In other business, commissioners heard a report from road supervisor Jesse Hamm that excess road millings will be available from work being done on Main St. in Marion that can be used for county roads.
“Pretty handy to have around and a lot of times cheaper than putting down rock,” Dallke said.