Council tables proposal to buy theater building

Move over, Gone With The Wind.The Saga of the Ely Theatre Building has lasted longer than any marathon motion picture, and the months-long controversy took another strange turn.Days after city officials and building owner Gary Quigley reached agreement on a process through which the city could acquire the aging structure, city council members abruptly tabled the proposal.The deal spelled out two options, one in which the city would buy the building for $145,000 and another in which the sale price would be set at $125,000, but council members decided against attorney Larry Klun’s recommendation to hold a special meeting to discuss the proposal.“I don’t see any reason to explore either one of these options,” said council member Paul Kess.The rest of the council followed suit, unanimously approving the motion to table.Council member Mike Hillman said the issue could be put to rest if Quigley proceeds with improvements to the building and brings it up to safety codes.“Gary was very forthcoming,” said Hillman. “He’s doing work on the north side and has an architect looking at the south side. He has cooperated and is meeting the demands we have made.”Earlier this year, the building was deemed unsafe by the city’s building inspector.Mayor Frank Salerno has pushed for the city to purchase and raze the building, while Quigley has sought funding to complete repairs.The inspector’s report cited failing bricks and holes in the wall on the north/alley side of the building.The building and land have assessed values totalling about $50,000, while demolition estimates are as high as $100,000.Some city council members have questioned whether it would be prudent to buy the building, and there have been no formal discussions about what the city would do with the building and land.Quigley had the building listed by a real estate agent and sought $125,000, but the listing has expired.Also Tuesday, the council accepted the recommendations of the city’s planning commission and approved several revisions to city code.The commission updated its list of permissible and conditional uses for various zoning districts.Much of the work involved condensing a seven-page list of various business types, although Kess said he remained concerned about language that could lead to the development of a “big box” retail center outside the core downtown district.Kess has pushed for large retail operations, such as Pamida, to remain in the downtown area.The commission also changed its variance requirements to allow for rebuilding of damaged homes located in commercial districts. It allows for a dwelling damaged to be rebuilt, as long as a building permit is applied for within 180 days of when the damage occurred.The commission had received complaints because earlier language hindered the sale of homes on Sheridan Street, which are in commercial-zoned areas.About 60 area residents will be notified by the commission that they have hedges or trees on their property that are either too high for the corner or grown into space over the sidewalk.That’s created safety concerns, especially on several corners, where the view of motorists is often hindered.Property owners will be notified to remove the trees or hedges, and if they refuse, city crews will remove them and bill the property owner for the work.In other business, the council:• Heard from engineer Harold Langowski of RLK Kuusisto that Oct. 1 is the target date for completion of the Camp Street Project.• Gave the Ely Fire Department permission to expand its membership from 30 to 35. Four new firefighters have been selected to bring the ranks back to 30, the previous maximum.But new fire chief Louis Gerzin sought some leeway to bring more people on in the future, so that the department didn’t have to start the hiring process over. Three others who tested this time around could be added to the department.•Tabled, until their Sept. 21 meeting, discussion on a proposal that would allow city clerk-treasurer John Tourville to work eight hours a week on economic development for the Ely Area Development Association.• Scheduled the annual Truth In Taxation hearing for Dec. 6 (5:30 p.m.).• Gave the Ely Jaycees permission to use the Hidden Valley chalet for their Halloween Haunted House event.