If the project is approved by council, demolition could start around August.
Council was asked to consider an alternative to the traditional demolition and removal of structures and heard details of a project concept by The William Thomas Group, Sustainability Solutions, of Cincinnati.
Council members would still need to learn whether there is asbestos on the power plant roof that would need to be removed removed. Brent Ball of The William Thomas Group told council that test could be done soon.
The project would cost an estimated $534,000 though that does not include asbestos removal, which may be needed.
“I’d like to have all of our eggs in a basket from the get-go,” said Councilman Mike McFarland.
City Manager Tim Eggleston said staff looked at various options for removing the water tower, with prices ranging up to $300,000. An estimate was received from The William-Thomas Group for $107,000 and the company was asked to also look at the electric building.
Eggleston said one of the goals is to recycle material the best they can.
Some materials could be ground and used for fill of the electric building site while other materials would be disposed of offsite, he said. Steel would be reviewed for recycling options. The electric plant also has a couple of transformers that are in working condition giving them some value that also would be deducted from costs, Ball said.
The 350,000-gallon water tower can be removed with the construction of the newest tower near the city service center.
The unused electric building was damaged in 2014 flooding. The city electric center operated from the former power plant from 1917 until 2014 and has operated from a new building on North Sixth Street since late 2015. The power plant ended production in 1975. The city still has its own municipal electric system but now buys the power.
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