Building at 107 W. Lincoln has been deemed an ‘immediate hazard’ by the council
by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council declared the building at 107 W. Lincoln an “immediate hazard” at its meeting Tuesday. The building that housed Redbeard’s Barber Shop on Washington and Lincoln Streets, has been roped off for a couple of weeks after the building’s owner got an engineers report that showed the building” is in very bad condition.
Building at 107 W. Lincoln.
The city will hire a Wichita company to stabilize the building, using steel posts and plates. Wellington city building official Richard Jack estimated it could cost $3,000 to $5,000. The city is waiting to receive another engineer’s report that will give them more specific information.
Mayor Shelley Hansel said she hopes the building can be saved.
Jack said the building is an immediate hazard. He said it is not likely to fall down in the next day or two, but it could within a month’s time if stabilization measures are not taken. He said the entire building is not damaged. It is just the southeast corner, but that has damaged the structure enough to make the three-story building weak enough to fall down.
The building could fall on itself, and crumble, and that would be a best case scenario, he said. It could also fall causing damage to nearby buildings, so they don’t want to just let it fall.
Jack told the council he wants to keep the building from being destroyed, and added it would cost between $50,000 and $100,000 to demolish the building. Because of its size there is no company in Wellington, or Sumner County, that could handle the job.
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Upcoming meetings
August 8. Work session on raw water issue.
August 16, Regular meeting with budget hearing.
August 22. Work session with the Humane Society.
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Humane Society
The council had a fairly long discussion with Linda Stewart, who was representing the Wellington Humane Society. The organization is planning on building an animal shelter for the county, and it has the land and most of the money it needs. The city has pledged $25,000 for the 2017 year for the society to hire a director. That council could approve the release of the money when the Humane Society is ready to hire a director.
Several questions had been raised though, and there is apparently concern among local veterinarians as to whether the shelter will create competition for their businesses. Currently, local vets take care of all the animals, and most agree a shelter is needed.
It is possible the shelter could have an office where a veterinarian could rent and take care of animals. If the center ran a lot of low-cost spaying and neutering services, that would have an effect on local veterinarians.
Council members had encouraged her and the veterinarians to talk more, and they have, and a work session has been scheduled to talk more about the issue.
There is also whether the city should give money to a non-profit organization that would provide services that compete with local businesses.
Stewart said” grocery stores don’t complain when the food bank gives away food, and she” didn’t see a difference in that and the humane society’s situation. It was pointed out the city doesn’t directly support the food bank. Council members expressed support for the humane society.
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Hospital Report
South Central Regional Medical Center board member Terry Deschaine gave an update on the hospital and his report was positive.
“I feel real good about morale at the hospital and in the community. It was not that way a year ago,” he said.
He said through the end of June the hospital has shown a net profit of $228,000. By comparison, in the first six months of 2015, the hospital lost $1.6″ million and there were fears the hospital might have to close.
He said the hospital still struggles to have cash on hand, but it is getting better. A big issue has been billing and that has been resolved to some degree.
“The hole is not getting deeper, like it was a year ago,” he said. “œI think we are going in the right direction.”
He said the hospital has been having trouble getting nurses, and that is a problem for rural hospitals in the area.
