One step closer
Hartley receives grant for asbestos removal at old Capitol Theatre
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NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
A grant from the Iowa DNR will cover a majority of asbestos abatement costs at the old Capitol Theatre in downtown Hartley.
It may not seem like much, but it's a start.
City Administrator Erica Haack this month announced that Hartley has received a Derelict Building Grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for asbestos removal at the old Capitol Theatre building. The city in 2021 applied for funding through the program, but was rejected.
Hartley will receive $25,000 to be used specifically for asbestos removal at the theater. The overall cost to abate the hazardous material has been estimated at $38,000.
"Based on the study done in 2020, there is asbestos in some of the floor tiling, roof tar/bur, some insulation, ceiling tile and ceiling texturing," Haack explained. "We are awaiting details on a removal deadline, but we know that the award will be available July 1 and anticipate having the work done after that, this summer."
Once asbestos has been abated, the city hopes to parlay the progress into another grant application to help with demolition costs. That leg of the project has been estimated at $100,000-$130,000.
NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
The City of Hartley has owned the former theater building since 2020.
The city has owned the building since October of 2020 after acquiring it from Dwight and Darla Jacobs, of Spirit Lake. The arrangement ended months of legal wrangling, which began in 2019 after the council declared the dilapidated former theater a dangerous building on the advice of O'Brien County Environmental Health Specialist Jonathon Hintz.
With no options for restoration, the council decided a date with the wrecking ball was the city's only option. The theater was built in 1925 and has a deteriorated roof, extensive interior water damage and mold issues.
City employees have rarely entered the building since 2020.
"Our crew has been inside the building a couple times since then, only when necessary, and it is continuing to deteriorate," Haack said.
Haack was pleased with the DNR grant and was happy there was positive news regarding the dilapidated building.
"The city is very appreciative of this award and is looking forward to making progress toward the eventual demolition of the building," she said.
