(PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
PARTIAL BUILDING COLLAPSE … The former Metamora Methodist Church building was the subject of discussion at the most recent village council meeting aftera portion of the upper exterior wall collapsed last week. The building’s current owner is in the process of having it assessed by an engineer to determine if it is still structurally sound.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The status of a partially collapsed building at 124 E. Main Street was a hot topic during Monday’s meeting of the Metamora Village Council.
On July 11, one third of the former Metamora Methodist Church’s upper wall fell off the building onto an unoccupied parked vehicle. The remaining two thirds of the wall were later removed.
According to Fire Chief Jessica Geer, the structural integrity of the 65-year-old building is still in question.
“The building inspector from Wood County was here and he wanted it chain linked off and secured as much as possible,” Geer said. “As far as the property owner and his family being in there, that’s an at-your-own-risk thing.”
She said the owner, who has owned the building for seven years, is in the process of getting an engineer’s assessment completed to determine whether or not the building is structurally sound.
That is expected to be finished this week and will then be transmitted to the Wood County building inspector to create a plan.
“They will have to apply for permits to fix, permits to change, permits to do whatever they need to do, if he’s tearing down the other side that may fall. Whatever he’s doing he has to have permits for,” Geer said. The owner wants to keep the building if possible.
Geer said both mold and asbestos are potential concerns. “Once there is fire prevention established at my fire station, I can then go in, do an inspection and make him do certain things, too,” she said.
“So there are ways to get in there and look at the building, but I need to know if it’s structurally safe before anyone goes in the building.”
She said he was also told he should have air sample testing completed before having contractors in the building.
“At the end of the day, it’s still under investigation and that’s where I’m leaving it because I’ve not heard back,” Geer said.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council agreed to allow mosquito spraying after 9 p.m. after a resident complained about their family getting fogged by the spray earlier in the day.
The council approved the payment of an additional $700 for tree trimming, with comments that the work request be more specific next time to avoid extra costs.
A board of zoning appeals meeting will be held on August 5 to consider a variance request.
The council approved the purchase of four new roasters at a cost of $79 each. The council approved the purchase of a new commercial popcorn popping machine at a cost of $150.
The council discussed the installation of new playground equipment, to be completed by volunteers from NorthStar Bluescope Steel.
The council agreed to issue a letter to two youths allegedly known to have vandalized a men’s restroom at the park, demanding they pay the roughly $1,000 in repair costs or be permanently trespassed from the property.
The council agreed to allow a group to hold organized, co-ed baseball games at the park every Thursday for 10 weeks beginning July 25, and to have restrooms unlocked for participants’ use.
The next regular meeting of the Metamora Village Council will be held at 8 p.m. at 114 N. Main Street on Wednesday, August 5.