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Wayne White | Managing Editor
OSAGE CITY—The Osage City Council has taken over the task
of removing a downtown structure that burned March 1. Demolition
began last Thursday and is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Friday, after the top of the building’s façade was
knocked down, Market Street was opened to traffic, ending a 13-day
detour.
Citing an immediate safety hazard, the city council voted March
10 to accept a bid of $46,600 from McPherson Wrecking, Inc., Topeka,
to clean up the site of Mink Photography and Ramblin’ Rose
at 531 and 529 Market Street.
According to Osage City Manager Nick Hernandez, the city has received
payments from the businesses’ insurance companies in the amount
of 15 percent of the estimated damages. From Ramblin’ Rose’s
insurance carrier, $8,250 has been collected, and $27,549.40 was
collected from Mink Photography’s insurance company.
“We’re still working with Ramblin’ Rose’s
insurance agent for that amount that is still owed,” Hernandez
said.
He said Mink Photography, where the fire started, was responsible
for paying 55.9 percent of the demolition costs, while Ramblin’
Rose was assessed 45.1 percent of the costs.
Hernandez said the contract with McPherson Wrecking allowed 21 calendar
days for the cleanup to be completed. A McPherson Wrecking employee
at the site said he expected to be finished within two weeks.
Hernandez said the lot will be graded once cleanup is done, and
fill dirt will be brought in as needed to avoid water ponding on
the lot. When completed, a dirt lot will remain, he said.
The structural integrity of neighboring businesses’ walls,
those of Osage Hardware and The Osage County Herald-Chronicle, cannot
be determined until the burnt structure is removed.
The Herald-Chronicle has temporarily relocated to 611 Market Street.
Osage Hardware owner Willie Atchison said he plans to open his store
Monday.
As of Tuesday, McPherson Wrecking continued to load and haul away
debris from the site.
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