The demoliton of the three-story building at 629 Main Street is expected to result in traffic delays for the foreseeable future.
Keokuk acquired the building in May 2018 through the court system. A few months later, it hired a company out of Cedar Rapids to remove asbestos from the property to possibly allow for redevelopment.
That idea came to an end at the hands of the federal government.
City Administrator Cole O’Donnell informed the city council in early October that a complaint had been filed with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He said OSHA ordered the company to halt asbestos removal due to concerns about the structural stability of the building.
O’Donnell told Tri States Public Radio at the time that the city was aware of the wall in question and that a structural engineer had told the city the building was stable enough for asbestos removal. Instead of challenging OSHA’s determination, the city opted to simply demolish the building.
The city hired Dore & Associates Contracting (Bay City, MI) to demolish the building at a cost of $247,900. That number does not include landfill fees or traffic control. The out-of-state firm’s bid was around $110,000 less than the bids submitted by three local companies.
The city will need to use reserve funds to cover the cost. It said the low bid was much higher than planned due to the failed attempt to remove asbestos.
The city has shut down a portion of Main Street and S. 7th Street to protect vehicles and pedestrians. Lanes are expected to gradually open as the project proceeds.
