Deconstruction of Caretaker's House could cost Winneshiek County over $10,000

The Caretaker's House at Wellington Place could be torn down as early as next week--but it would cost Winneshiek County over $10,000 for the project.

Oneota Historic Future Alliance president Jim Burns met with county supervisors on Monday to discuss bids for the "deconstruction" of the building.  Burns said TCS Construction of Dubuque, owned by Ted Stakis, has submitted a bid of $13,400 to take down the building to its foundation.  Burns says the company promises to recycle 85 percent of the material in the building, including windows and doors and flooring.

TCS has been hired to remove the Wapsie Produce building in Decorah starting next week.  Burns says the company will take $1,000 off its charges if the Caretaker's House deconstruction is done at the same time as the Wapsie project.

That would leave a net cost of $12,400, which, under the terms of OHFA's contract with Winneshiek County, the non-profit group is responsible for paying.  But Burns says the group already paid $3,300 for asbestos removal in the building--and has just a little over $2,000 in revenues remaining.  He asked the county board to agree to pay the remaining costs.

Supervisors didn't immediately agree to pay the extra money.  They asked County Attorney Andy Van Der Maaten whether the contract with OHFA couldn't be enforced.  Van Der Maaten told the supervisors the contract certainly could be enforced, "but you have collection issues."

Supervisors stated they would take up the issue in the near future.