Handicapped ramp approved
By Gloria Reed
CULVER � The Culver Library got a reprieve Wednesday night when the Culver Town Council approved permission to install a temporary handicapped ramp.
The library and the town council had agreed previously at a council meeting to grant a temporary ramp providing the library give a temporary easement to the town in the alley to provide to the sewer lines under the alley. The handicapped ramp would sit on top of the sewer line.
According to Bob Osborn, library board president, the temporary easement would also need to be given by the Fifth/Third Bank allowing the town to have access to the lines. The temporary easement would be in effect until the alley can be vacated.
However the bank and the library have been involved in a legal battle concerning the removal of contaminated soil and contaminated oil tank attached to the bank. The oil tank was discovered when the construction began excavating the library site before construction of the new addition. According to Osborn the bank claims the library has to pay the $40,000 plus clean up fee. The library board feels it is the banks responsibility to pay the clean up costs because the oil tank was on the bank property and attached to the bank.
Due to the legal battle the bank has refused to grant the town a temporary easement for access to the sewer line so the town cannot vacate the alley.
Osborn said he hopes the legal problems are over soon. He said the library board is seeking damages for the clean up cost, an additional $41,000 for additional expenses from the delay in the building and $25,000 in punitive damages from the bank.
The council granted the library the permission to go ahead and install the temporary ramp so they can open the building up to patrons.
The council acted on a recommendation by the Culver Plan Commission to grant the temporary ramp without the alley vacation.
Osborn said the new library cannot be moved into because it failed to pass a certificate of occupancy from Marshall County because it did not have a fire exit at the rear of the building. The temporary handicapped ramp would provide the library with the necessary fire exit.
However, Osborn isn�t inclined to put in a temporary handicapped ramp. He would rather have the permanent ramp.
�I called the contractor and he said we couldn�t do it,� Osborn said. �The ramp will have a coil in it to provide heat so that in winter the snow and ice won�t stay on it.
�The contractor said it has to be poured all at once.�
But the county told Osborn the building cannot be occupied until the ramp is in.
�We�re stuck,� Osborn said. �We�re paying rent and utilities on one building and own another one.�
Latham Lawson, library board vice president, feels the library should go ahead and put in a temporary handicapped ramp.
�We�re going to have to,� Lawson said. �We have to get something done to get moved into the building.�
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