The Marshall Municipal Utilities Board of Public Works discussed the possibility of paying for the demolition of dilapidated buildings on the property formerly known as the Marshall Habilitation Center during its meeting on Thursday, March 11.

MMU General Manager Jeff Bergstrom explained he and controller Tony Bersano had a meeting with City Administrator David Haugland and two city council members for a funding request.

Bersano said the natural gas reserve account has $2.5 million invested and $780,000 in the operating account. He said the investment doesn’t mature until August, so by pulling it out, there will be a penalty. Bergstrom says the only concern is something major going wrong.

Haugland said the $1.7 million price tag will cover the demolition of all of the structures that have been deemed dangerous/uninhabitable on the property.

MMU Board President Wick Jacobi said he is in favor of paying the bills as they come in rather than transferring all of the funds to make things a lot more transparent. Bergstrom says he agrees.

The bills will come in monthly relating to how much demolition has taken place.

Board member Spencer Fricke says it’s going to be a positive thing for the entire community.

The city council is scheduled to discuss the ordinance during its meeting on Monday, March 15. If approved, it will go back before the MMU board for its blessing prior to it taking effect.

According to Haugland, the goal is to have all of the buildings demolished by the start of the 2021-22 school year. The city has to have at least one of the buildings torn down by November.