Demolition of the house in Ronin Park will take place, but any building to replace it will have to wait a while, members of the Fremont City Council said Tuesday.
At its regular meeting, council members approved demolition of the house near 17th Street and Somers Avenue, which an inspection showed had several structural problems, including a crumbling foundation.
Fremont Parks and Recreation Department officials will be able to auction salvageable materials from the house such as the staircase, doors and windows. Some bricks from the foundation will be donated to May Museum to be used in its gardens. Those bricks match ones already in use there.
Additionally, Fremont Fire Chief Gary German told council members his department could possibly use the building for training exercises before it is torn down.
But council members wanted it clearly stated they are not ready to approve a new building for the site.
“This is on a back burner and there is little heat under it now,” said Gary Bolton, who represents Ward 1.
Scott Getzschman, who represents Ward 3, added officials at Keene Memorial Library already have been told expansion plans there will have to wait until the budget situation improves. This, too, would need to wait, he said.
Right now, a replacement building is only at the idea stages, said John Schmitz, director of the Fremont Parks and Recreation Department.
“We don’t have a direct timetable,” he said. “Everything is in the idea stage.”
He added the department would be looking for ways other than property tax dollars to pay for the building.
One concept for a new building is a youth center, which could possibly be the home to the city’s preschool and offer other services.
Schmitz, in a staff report to the council, did not list an estimate on the cost of demolition. He did state that cost is not included in the budget but would adjust priorities so no additional appropriation would be necessary.
In other business, the council:
* Approved the appointment of Gary Carlson to the Board of Forestry Examiners.
* Approved outside fire contracts for the year. The city provides fire protection and rescue services to several companies that are not in the city limits. Those include Americold Logistics, Hormel Foods Corp., Magnus-Farley Metals, North American Nutrition Co., Seager and Co., Best Cob, Fremont Beef Co., R.E. Partnership, Jayhawk Boxes and Oilgear. In addition to each company’s fee, which ranges from $450 to $7,300, they are charged $300 per fire call.
* Approved a no parking zone along the south side of Empire Avenue for the first 125 feet west of Broad Street. That area is immediately south of one entrance to Washington Elementary School’s parking lot. A no parking zone already exists on the north side of the street.
* Approved plans, specifications, estimate of cost and granted permission to advertise for bids for Keene Memorial Library heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The estimated cost is $103,400. Funds for the equipment are included in the city’s budget.
* Approved, after the third reading, an ordinance requested by Eastowne Development to have a planned unit development district north of Fremont Mall along Yager Road. Plans call for several apartment buildings to be constructed.
* Approved requests from Victor’s Inc. and Platte Valley Equipment Co. to connect to the city’s water system. Both companies are located outside city limits, but near the Christensen Business Park. Platte Valley Equipment’s request to connect to the city’s sewer system also was approved. Each company will pay connection fees.
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