BEAUMONT — There was a back-and-forth between Beaumont City Councilman Mike Getz and other city council members during Councilman Getz comments at the end of the Tuesdays Beaumont City Council meeting, which led to Mayor Becky Ames recessing the meeting early.
Getz comments were concerning the cost of the vacant AT&T building on Main Street. Last week the city council voted unanimously to authorize City Manager Kyle Hayes to execute all documents necessary to purchase the property. Getz says he asked for the motion to be tabled but he couldn’t get a second.
“Last week in open session is when we learned that we had offered a million dollars to buy the building and that it had been accepted, or that there is a letter of intent,” said Getz. “We do not have an earnest money contract signed at this point.”
12News could not get clarification, but the lack of that earnest money contract could have been what gave the rest of council pause on the subject. Getz says that the land the building is sitting on is worth $450,000. He also says that City Manager Kyle Hayes has stated that the potential demolition of the building would cost around $500,000. Getz disagrees with that figure because of the asbestos in the building.
“I’ve talked to people in the demolition industry and I’m told that it might cost as much as much as two million dollars to abate the asbestos and demolish this building,” said Getz.
If that is the case it would be a total of $3 million to buy and demolish the building.
“We’re spending $3 million for a piece of land that cost $450,000,” said Getz. “And I’m not sure that’s what the tax payers of Beaumont would want their city council to do.”