Chamber to reveal position on demolition at commission meeting

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is expected to release its position regarding the dilapidated Miller and Nelson Block buildings at the Fort Scott City Commission meeting starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 1 E. Third St.

Although that position is, as yet, unknown, it's expected that the chamber will recommend tearing down the structures, since commissioners at the last meeting voted 4-1 to advise staff to continue seeking necessary steps in safely taking the buildings down.

Also, City Manager Richard Nienstedt will give an update on progress in discussions with state agencies and an engineering company that will work with the city in removing the structures.

The buildings were heavily damaged by the March 11, 2005 fire that swept through numerous downtown structures. After the fire, commissioners decided to stabilize the facades and exterior walls, hoping someday the remains could be incorporated as facades for new buildings. That plan never materialized, because the city didn't receive any workable development offers from real estate developers, even after it posted the buildings on e-Bay trying to attract worldwide attention.

Other items on Tuesday's agenda include the following:

* Consideration of a bid submitted by OMB Police Supply for 23 Glock handguns at a total price of $9,407. The Fort Scott Police Department will only have to pay $3,612 of that amount, because OMB accepted trade-in of 19 currently used .45-caliber Sig Sauer guns. If approved, the upgrade will give each officer a bigger magazine and less recoil than the Sigs.

* Consider approving an ordinance prohibiting commercial truck parking on Broadway. The ordinance was tabled last meeting because it was not typed out and ready for commission viewing. The ordinance aims at disallowing trucks weighing more than a certain weight. It's purpose is to increase safety of drivers trying to pull out of their driveways on the street and motorists driving down the street.

* Review a series of recommendations from an engineering firm that would alleviate train inconveniences. Engineers from Omaha, Neb.,-based Felsburg, Hold and Ullevig conducted an in-depth study recommending three main improvements: installing a quiet zone at each rail crossing, a grade separation on 23rd Street and increasing vertical clearance to 13-feet 3-inches at the Third Street underpass.