Keokuk, IA – The Green Tambourine building at 528 Main Street collapsed on July 31, 2009.
The city started removing tons of debris from the site in early 2010.
That process was put on hold in February of that year because of the discovery of a series of subterranean brick arches.
A group came forward to try to restore and develop the site, but a lack of funding ended that effort.
The city has been exploring options for filling the hole, including using fill dirt generated by the separation of the city's sanitary and storm-water sewer system.
that effort fell through, which left the giant hole.
A local industry, Griffin Wheel, offered Keokuk access to tons of a sand-like material.
A deal has now been reached to where four local construction companies will provide trucks to haul the sand across town to the hole.
Mayor Tom Marion says former Mayor Dave Gudgel led the way in getting the companies (Hickey Contracting, W.L. Miller, Keokuk Contractors, and Meyers Sanitation) onboard with the project.
Marion says the only cost to the city will be having a supervisor on site and having an employee operating a bobcat inside the hole.
He says top soil will be added once the hole is completely filled.
The site could eventually be used as a park or even as a parking lot.
Marion says a transportation schedule is expected to be worked out on Monday.
He hopes to have the project completed before Thanksgiving.