Columbus says it can have no part in easement decisions
Local residents can now see exactly where the new Polk County Republican Headquarters building will be situated.
Construction on the steel frame began a couple of weeks ago with the walls and roof beginning last week.
The general contractor for the project is Myron Yoder of Green Creek.
Polk Republican officials had asked the Town of Columbus to step in and help with ensuring that the side of the new building along an easement is not used for general parking.
Columbus Town Council met Oct. 20 and announced that the town can have no part of a private property issue. The town and local Republican officials discussed how the town could help over the past few months with the last request being if the town could designate the easement as a fire lane.
Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre said the town looked into state code and spoke with the fire chief and it’s “just not possible” for the town to designate the area a fire lane.
“The town does not need to be a referee in this matter,” McIntyre said.
Council directed town manager Jonathan Kanipe to send local businesses a letter saying the parking issue is something private property owners should work out.
The new building is expected to take three months to construct, weather permitting. The building is made of steel, but will have similar exteriors to other new buildings in Columbus.
The new building is located on Peake Street in Columbus where the former Republican headquarters was torn down. The former building suffered a roof collapse in December 2009 and was demolished last year. The new building is on the same lot, but shifted to the right and front to allow for parking in the rear. Emergency, garbage and supply vehicles will enter to the left of the building instead of from the right side, which was the former rear entrance.