BROOKVILLE — City manager Jack Kuntz thanked the Barton Malow crew for their demolition work of the former Brookville National Bank drive-thru, located on Hay Avenue.
Barton Malow, the contractor for the General Motors Duramax plant currently under construction in Brookville, volunteered to do the demolition.
“The project came as a cost savings to the city and will provide additional parking opportunities for downtown Brookville,” Kuntz said.
The city plans to transform the area into a public parking lot.
Brookville Mayor Chuck Letner said Barton Malow performed the demolition work as part of a community project.
“Whatever community Barton Malow is in they do a community project,” Letner said.
Letner noted in 2019, Barton Malow’s community project in Brookville consisted of staining the wood at the Castle Playground in Golden Gate Park.
“It turned out great. They had about 15-20 people out there and they got it done in about a day to a day-in-a-half,” Letner said.
Letner said this year, he asked Jaime Wilson, of Barton Malow, if they could demolish the bank drive-thru the city purchased at a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office sale.
“I approached Jamie and said I don’t know if this is in your realm of what you do, but can you tear the bank’s drive-thru down for us. We want to make it a parking lot so we have more parking downtown,” Letner said.
Letner said after looking at the drive-thru, Wilson said “we can do that. We still have our construction equipment here.”
Letner said the city, after purchasing the property, attempted to secure a grant to pay for the demolition, but was unsuccessful.
Brookville Vice Mayor James Zimmerlin asked Letner the cost of the demolition if the city had to pay for it.
“The one bid we got – through Bladecutters (demolition contractor in Northridge) – was $30,000,” Letner replied.
“Thanks to Barton Malow and their volunteers. They bring a lot to the community and it’s great working with them,” Letner said.
Kuntz noted the fire department conducted training at the drive-thru building prior to demolition.
Kuntz also noted the city’s service department assisted in disconnecting utilities and the removal of some of the material.
In other matters, Kuntz congratulated finance and human resource director Michelle Brandt for the Ohio Auditor of State award recently presented to her by Ohio state auditor Keith Faber’s office.
This is Brandt’s fourth Ohio Auditor of State award.
“This award recognizes excellence in financial reporting in accordance with ‘generally accepted accounting principles’ and compliance with all applicable state laws,” Kuntz said.
“The city obviously appreciates Michelle’s work on everything within the city’s finance department ensuring we continue to be responsible stewards of taxpayer resources as well as keeping our finances as transparent as any community within the state,” Kuntz added.
In business matters, council approved an ordinance requiring new businesses planning to locate in the city to register the business with the city.
The ordinance takes effect 30 days after passage by council as provided by the city charter.
The ordinance states the city “desires to require businesses to register with the city of Brookville prior to the business commencing operations in the city of Brookville to provide the city with information regarding the business and to assist the city in determining that the business has obtained all necessary permits and licenses to operate the business.”
The ordinance states “all businesses that are located in the city of Brookville and commence operations in the city of Brookville after Oct. 30, 2024, shall register the business with the city of Brookville.”
The ordinance states “the city manager shall approve a business registration form to be used in the registration process.”
The ordinance states “failure of the owner of a business to register the business with city of Brookville shall constitute a minor misdemeanor.”
Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].