Shenandoah company begins demolition of former church, debris removal from two other sites this week in Red Oak

 RED OAK – Demolition and clean up of three Red Oak eyesores is expected to start next week, including the abandoned 19th century church at 411 E. Hammond.

Southwest Iowa Parking Lot Maintenance submitted the lowest bid for the Hammond Street demolition project at $19,500. The Shenandoah-based company recently completed the demolition and cleanup of the former Kolterman building in downtown Red Oak.

Red Oak City Administrator Brad Wright reported at last week’s city council meeting that the former church’s owner, J.L. Spray, had been notified by Montgomery County Attorney Bruce Swanson that the building would be demolished this week.

In April, Spray was found guilty of violating Red Oak’s nuisance ordinance, giving the City Council the authorization to demolish the structure, while charging Spray up to $5,000 in costs.

At its July 7 meeting, the Council directed Swanson to file suit against Spray in district court in an attempt to recover the total cost for demolition.

Swanson is representing Red Oak in this case instead of City Attorney Tom Stamets whose partner, Josiah Wearin, represents Spray.

Spray, a Lincoln attorney, has said he will contest any lawsuit filed and does not believe the city has the legal authority to collect any damages from him beyond the deed to the property, which he has offered.

Southwest Iowa Parking Lot Maintenance will be keeping busy in Red Oak the next couple of weeks, as Wright told the Council they will also be cleaning up two other properties, including the former Pit Stop bar at 501 E. Reed and a building on Washington Street.

After sitting vacant for nearly a year, the building that housed the Pit Stop bar burned  down in October 2013. Since that time, a temporary six-foot fence has surrounded the untouched pile of rubble as the building’s owner, Rudy Morales, and his insurance company reached a settlement.

That settlement has been reached and clean up on the property was expected to start this week.

Wright also told the Council the building that collapsed at 404 E. Washington will also be removed. The building is owned by Dennis Larson.