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Hometown Inn awaiting demolition - updated 5/10/11
The days are numbered for Hometown Inn, as less than a month remains until its demolition date. The Prairie Township trustees finalized the $1.3 million purchase in April, after the property had been surveyed for hazardous material by Stantec Consulting Services at the cost of $12,494. According to Trustee Stephen Kennedy, the township must begin tearing down the property by June 1. “There are several special meetings, probably three of them, to keep this on track,” Kennedy said. During a special meeting on May 10, the township awarded the Phase III contract to Decker Construction, who submitted the lowest bid at $843,902 - well under the township engineer’s estimated cost of $981,925. “Stantec found that Decker’s bid package was in good order and recommends them,” Township Administrator Tracy Hatmaker said. Hatmaker said documents for the demolition are scheduled to be executed May 25 and a special meeting will occur May 27 to finalize the proceedings. The only obstacle the township faces is a blanketing easement, owned by Waffle House, that overlaps with former hotel’s property. According to Hatmaker, a task order is being authorized allowing Stantec to negotiate with Waffle House for the release of the overlapping segments Sidewalk Improvement Program The trustees adopted a resolution on May 4, which allows the Franklin County Engineers to begin work on the Prairie Township Sidewalk Improvement Program. The program is in its eighth year. “It allows residents to elect to have their sidewalks repaired or replaced, or their driveways repaired or replaced,” Hatmaker said, noting that the repairs are at a volume discount through the township’s road improvement project. Hatmaker added, “This program has been very successful in the past in a way to encourage residents to help maintain this important piece of public infrastructure,” Hatmaker said. Additionally, the program allows residents to repay the costs over a 10 year span, at zero interest, through property tax assessment. According to Hatmaker, only a few residents have expressed interest in the program this year, and he welcomes more residents who wish to participate to contact the township office.
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