Demolition hearing set for April 8

GLOVERSVILLE - The Common Council has scheduled an April 8 public hearing on an ordinance regarding the demolition of a building at 7 Hill St.

However, it is unclear whether the building would be razed by independent contractors or the county Demolition Team.

The Fulton County Board of Supervisors tabled a resolution to use the county Demolition Team to demolish the building.

The city is trying to gain approval from the county as soon as possible.

The demolition is part of a larger city-owned Hill Street Bridge repair project.

A county board resolution in 2001 established a policy that the team, designed to demolish municipally owned structures, should not raze private buildings.

DPW Director Kevin Jones said the county can do the job much cheaper than an independent contractor. If the county refuses to demolish the building and be reimbursed $25,000 by the city, the city would have to bring in a private contractor to do the same job for about $150,000, Jones said.

Jones said the city is asking the county to do the demolition because the property owner, Mark Vrooman of Utah, has been served with numerous tickets, notices of hearings and condemnation letters but refuses to answer them.

Jones said regardless of the county's decision, the building will have to be demolished so the city can continue with the bridge repair project.

He said the road would have to be closed for the bridge project and the city is trying to complete the project within one construction season.

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Demolition hearing set for April 8