Discussion of the future of Wellington Place's North Building provokes strong opinions

The Winneshiek County Board on Monday heard strong--and conflicting--opinions about the best future for Wellington Place's North Building.

Wellington Place officials have requested the county board give permission to tear down the building.  Supervisor John Logsdon, who is the county board's liason to the Wellington Place board, said Wellington Place board members don't feel maintaining the old building is in their mission statement.  He also said the building would be too costly to renovate.

But fellow county supervisor Bill Ibanez strongly disagreed, saying the estimated demolition cost of $65,000 to $75,000 is "a lot of money."  Ibanez suggested the building could be detached from the Wellington Place building and left standing by itself.

Ibanez and Logsdon then tangled over the issue, with Ibanez complaining, "We have a tenant demanding that we tear this building down."  Logsdon disagreed, saying the statement from the Wellington Place board was "a reasonable request" and not a "demand."

Ossian resident Bill Green told the supervisors the North Building "is worthless."  Green says people are not willing to spend tax money to repair an old building when that money could be used on roads and bridges instead.

The State Board of Appeals has given Winneshiek County until next May to fix the sprinkler system in the building.  Some county supervisors appear to want to make a decision on the fate of the building before that time.