This article was in Tuesday’s (January 24th, 2018) Herald and News

Written By: Stephen Floyd, H&N Staff Reporter 

Klamath County commissioners have approved a $195,350 contract to demolish the former Medo-Bel dairy building downtown at 1500 Esplanade Avenue, with the structure likely coming down next month.

On Tuesday, commissioners approved a bid from Springfield-based Staton Co. to tear the building to the ground, leaving the property open for new construction.

Klamath County acquired the property in 2016 through a tax foreclosure. Due to the need for asbestos abatement and damage to walls and the roof, which has caved in, the county chose to tear down the building rather than make repairs.

Staton’s bid was among four received by the county, including offers from Bob’s Excavation, Groat Bros. Inc. and Anderson Environmental Contracting, LLC. Bids ranged as high as $303,987 for complete demolition and Staton’s bid was the lowest.

Commissioner Donnie Boyd said he felt confident accepting Staton’s bid as multiple groups, including county and city public works, reviewed the proposals.

“We had a lot of people score these, so I feel very, very good about this,” he said.

Boyd said most of the demolition will be paid for from the county’s property management fund, while $60,000 will come from state assistance to remove hazardous material. Boyd said the removal of asbestos will begin within the next week while complete demolition is expected by the middle of February.

Following demolition, the county intends to sell the property. Boyd said they would not need to follow an auction process like other properties because the land in question is zoned general commercial, allowing the county to sell directly to a buyer.

Last year Dollar General offered the county $200,000 to purchase the property as-is, according to Property Manager Rick Vaughn. Boyd said Tuesday he was not aware of any offers currently on the table from Dollar General or other potential purchasers

To read this article and others on the Herald and News website, please refer to the following link:

$195K Approved for Medo-Bel Demolition (H&N)