Council authorizes bid process for demolition

Council authorizes bid process for demolition

By R.L. Thompson

Okemah City Council approved for City Manager Kristi Lesley to go out for bids to remove the buildings in the 500 block of West Broadway.

This is not a new discussion. The west wall of the building located at 514 West Broadway collapsed in the early morning hours of October 6, 2023. The Housing Standards Board met on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 only three members were present to address the structures.

Property Owner Tim Mander addressed the Housing Standards Board at their November 14, 2023 meeting and said he wanted to save the property and develop the remaining buildings on the property. Mander emphasized that no interior walls were removed in the building.

Mander requested 120 days to take down the building located at 514 West Broadway. He requested in the same 120 days to remove the second story of brick on the building located just west of the Fire Department. He said the building is about three feet from the Fire Department and the bricks would have to be removed by hand to keep from damaging the fire department.  Mander stated there was no structural damage to the center building and therefore, there is no danger to the public.

Instead, Chairperson Shumate made the motion to abate all three buildings rejecting Mander’s offer and plan. The board voted 3-0 for Mander to take down all three buildings in 120 days.  The estimated cost discussed during the meeting could be around $60,000 to remove the buildings. Mander told the board that he could not cash flow that much money in just 120 days. The buildings were not demolished and still stand today.

On March 25, the Okemah City Council entered executive session to discuss a proposal concerning the buildings located at 514 West Broadway.  Upon return from executive session, Mayor Ron Gott made the motion to accept the buildings based on a marketable title being provide. Also, Mayor Gott noted the request was for the present owner Tim Mander to have until April 29 to remove his personal items, Gott amended the request to April 19.  The Council voted unanimous to a accept the buildings based upon the mayor’s motion.   The details of the agreement to accept the fallen buildings were not revealed in the motion nor discussed in opened session.

April 19 has come and gone and now seven weeks later the Council is still discussing the demolition of the buildings. There are still items in the building and in the lots to the west of the building that need to be removed. It was estimated during the Housing Standards Board meeting in November of last year, the buildings located at 514 West Broadway would cost around $60,000 to take down.

During the May 30 city council meeting the council authorized Lesley to go out for bids. Vice Mayor Lucas asked about anyone seeking to reclaim some of the bricks. City Manager Lesley said it was part of the conversation.  The City does not have the funds in this budget year to abate the property. The new budget will start in July, however, it has not been made public how much money the city is planning to allocate for abatement projects in the next fiscal year.