Mayor D.C. Reeves assured the media that the demolition of the old Baptist Hospital and all environmental abatement is being “conducted safely, responsibly, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.”
- Former City Councilman Ronald Townsend and his wife live within three blocks of the abandoned hospital. He wrote to the mayor and city council about the lack of information about possible environmental hazards from the buildings’ demolition. Those concerns surfaced last week during the council’s debate over the mayor’s recommendation to hire a development advisory team. That item was withdrawn before a vote.
“We’ve gone the added step of which we certainly are not obligated to do, but for that level of care and level of quality expectation of this project…we’ve hired an owner’s rep to represent the city that’s an expert in the field that will be out there every day and is already working hand in hand with our contractor to make sure not only the most important, the environmental safety things are being done at our level of expectation, but also even just in some of the communication stuff,” said the mayor at his weekly press conference this morning.
Reeves added, “I know that there’s already been conversations between our owner’s rep and the contractor from things like door hang notifications, just discussions on how we want to make sure that things are getting communicated. I’ll give you a couple of the updates that we know logistically with the demolition.”
What’s Next
He said residents may see equipment staging starting later this month. A perimeter fence will be installed after the new year. “The initial demolition that will start taking place will actually be happening inside the building…and, of course, we’ll provide clear and advanced notice if any types of timeline shift, and again, our project rep is in contacted with information is conveyed.”
I asked the mayor if the city has a communication plan for the neighborhood surrounding the old hospital campus.
“Yes, we can get you as much details as possible,” the mayor replied. “Again, that’s Cliff’s top job right now is on just our side, on top of the owner’s rep that we have software ability to do that and to be able to geofence geographically electronically.”
- Who? Cliff is Clifford Collins, the Associate City Administrator for Strategic Initiative.
Reeves added, “We’ve already had conversations last week about folks that may not get email needing to get something physical on their doorsteps.”
According to a person seeking to stop the cutting of the heritage trees, Collins said the administration does not have to comply with the Section 12-6-4(4) city code requirement to give notice to the council member representing the area where the trees are to be cut. That member is Councilman Delarian Wiggins. According to a person who spoke with Wiggins, he was not told. According to a person who spoke with the city’s “former” arborist, described to mew as no longer employed by the city, the arborist never contracted Wiggins as required by law. A person who spoke directly with Wiggins said Wiggins spoke with Mayor Reeves about the lack of notice and “got nowhere.” If true, if the city code was violated, “and” if Reeves knew or was told directly by Wiggins, Reeves’ action would seems to rise to the level of misfeasance, the negligent discharge of his official duties as chief executive – the “buck” stopping with him. Under a charter amendment that I insisted upon, the city’s mayor can be recalled (removed) from office by city voters for seven grounds to include misfeasance. Would be helpful if Inweekly would confirm and report if the the city’s arborist did or did not notify Councilman Wiggins. There is reportedly an e-mail from Clifton Collins saying the administration does not have to notify Wiggins. If the Reeves Administration did not comply with the requirements of the city code in issuing the tree removal permit, and that’s a big “if,” then the tree removal permit may be invalid.