City of Willow Springs hears update on downtown building

Three members of the nonprofit Main Street Willow Springs appeared before the Willow Springs Board of Aldermen Thursday night to give an update on their building at the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets. Mary Jones, Mindi Parsons, and Mark Snow were on hand not only for this update, but also to discuss the upcoming Trunk or Treat event on Halloween.

Regarding the building, a construction management firm performed a feasibility study on Sept. 14. Though a complete report is expected by Sept. 30, City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed the Board that the firm said that the building, in its current state, is dangerous and must be dealt with immediately. According to Hicks, Gene Douglas of Oke-Thomas & Associates recommended specific repairs at an approximate cost of $400,000.00. Hicks said Douglas believed this project could be done very quickly with the architectural engineer and the contractor he brought with him, if the nonprofit could manage the financial backing.

Gene Douglas is the same engineer that conducted the feasibility study on the MoDOT buildings. Hicks did not respond to a question regarding who is paying for the new study. 

Hicks confirmed that this is the third opinion obtained on the condition of the building. The City arranged and paid for a structural engineer's evaluation of its condition by a structural engineer in late 2019. The Board of Aldermen heard the results of this report at the January 2020 meeting.

According to the structural assessment, provided by Allgeier, Martin, and Associates, Inc. in 2019, "Repairs should be made as soon as possible. The masonry wall is currently at risk and poses a significant danger to the owner/occupant and general public should it collapse. If repairs are not made soon, collapse or partial collapse is probable...If the repairs are not completed before next winter and the building has not yet collapsed, it may need to be demolished."

At the time of the report, the building's previous owner was residing in it.

After they bought the building, Main Street Willow Springs obtained a project bid from Base Construction that contradicted the urgency of the previous report, confirmed Hicks in Thursday's meeting. 

Hicks said the reason for the third report is "to make sure as a city we're doing everything legally." 

Main Street Willow Springs also requested permission to place a 20-yard dumpster on the front sidewalk while a barrier is built. The Board approved this request. 

Gene Douglas should appear at the next Oct. 20 meeting to provide a formal update.

In other business:

- Trunk or Treat will take place downtown from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 31. The streets will be closed from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

- A 2023 budget work session is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m.

- The Aldermen approved a new long-term contract with Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool (MMMPEP) that allows for more diversity and flexibility in the pool's power supply, including ownership of generation assets and renewable energy contracts. Hicks reported these changes will keep electric rates more stable, and the addition of the City of Winona as their fourteenth member will add more buying power.

- The meeting moved into closed session at 5:59 p.m. and adjourned at 6:35 p.m. with no action taken.