City seeks to recover Depot Street demolition costs

The city of Shelbyville will soon move to recover demolition costs from the owner of a Depot Street building.

Total costs for last year's razing and restoration of the site where two buildings once stood off the public square comes to $225,215.24, according to information provided to the city council Tuesday.

City attorney Ginger Shofner told the council that if they would vote to pursue collection for the funds next Thursday during their monthly council meeting, they can either make it a lien on the property, or a personal debt against Alice Albrecht, the owner of 109 E. Depot.

Shofner also mentioned that Albrecht's attorney was waiting for the figures and had requested them.

The building at 113 E. Depot was damaged last year during the demolition of Albrecht's property, which was considered a dangerous structure.

Contractors and engineers said at the time it would cost over $200,000 to repair it and bring up to code, so the council voted to tear it down as well.

According to figures given to the city council, tearing down 109 E. Depot cost $65,620, while the purchase of 113 E. Depot from Wayne Hix cost Shelbyville $82,502.

Demolition of that structure cost the city an additional $42,067.88, which included stabilizing the adjacent roof system. Building a party wall for another adjoining building cost $20,895.64.

Site restoration materials ran $1,295.87, and labor and equipment for the job, which included 90 city worker man hours, cost Shelbyville $5,387.40.

Damage totaling $3,470 was done to a heating unit owned by Hix and there was also damage to an awning owned by Jennifer Jordan, costing $358.37, including four city worker man hours.

Damage to property owned by Nancy June Brandon totalled $1,095.36 and damage to 115 E. Depot cost $1,010.50.

Also, there was damage to an electrical meter and riser behind Dancy's totalling $253.22. Legal costs to date over the matter have totalled $2,128.