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Vienna closer to last stages of Johns Manville cleanup

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton A photo showing a cleared Johns Manville site was shown to members of the Vienna City Council at Thursday night’s meeting.

VIENNA — After months of work, the project to remove contaminated debris from the former Johns Manville site is finally complete and the city is now ready for the final stages to fully clearing the site.

During Thursday’s Vienna City Council meeting, Mayor Randy Rapp said the site is clear save for some scrap steel and part of a warehouse on the property.

Paul Thornton, city development director, said the debris removal began in May.

“All piles of debris are gone, all the structures are gone and the smoke stack has been removed,” he said. “You’ll notice some steel that has been separated so that it can be recycled. We are getting some competitive bids for it from two steel recyclers and whoever brings us the best price will get the steel.”

Rapp said the project has taken some time but there is still work to do.

Photo by Jeffrey Saulton Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp, right, presents a plaque to Jimmie Harper, left, owner of Jimmie Harper Construction, marking his 50 years in business.

“It has been an amazing journey and it seems like we’ve been on this thing forever,” he said. “Now that it is almost over it is incredible. All that is left is the warehouse (next to 28th Street) and we will use the Brownfields money to fund that project.”

Rapp said the city will advertise for an abatement crew to remove materials from the roof and walls and after that the city will repurpose the steel. Rapp said the concrete base is in great shape despite its age.

“It has been covered for the past 70 to 80 years and it is in great shape,” he said.

At the start of the meeting Rapp honored Jimmie Harper, owner and operator of Jimmie Harper Construction, for his 50 years in business and his commitment to the community. Harper’s firm was awarded the contract to remove debris from the Johns Manville site.

In other matters:

* An amendment to an existing ordinance requiring the upfront payment of permit review fees be paid before a building permit may be issued passed its second reading in a unanimous reading.

* An amendment to an ordinance regarding how the city appoints members to the Vienna Public Library Board of Directors passed its second reading in a unanimous vote. Russ Skogstad, city attorney, said the change was made to comply with changes in the state code made in the 1990s. Under the change, the city appoints three members and the Wood County Commission and the Wood County Board of Education appoint one member each to the five-member board.

* Council approved a financing bid for new street department equipment. The winning bid was 1.99 percent over a three-year term from United Bank.

* Council approved the purchase of road salt. Amy Roberts, finance director, said the bid for $69.75 per ton from Cargill was accepted.

* Council approved the 2017-2018 action plan for the community development block grant. Vienna is to receive $92,799 with $77,799 earmarked for minor home repairs and $15,000 for administration, and will expand the program the city had for energy efficient window replacement to cover other items for those with income at 80 percent of the median income or below.

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