The Webster City City Council Monday evening accepted the bid from Mid-Iowa Site Services LLC of Fort Dodge for the demolition and asbestos abatement contract to the Hilltop Elementary School building at 915 High Street. The bid came in at $89,001 and 91 cents. The City of Webster City acquired the site in April,2025 through a deed transfer following an unsafe property investigation. The former Hilltop School was condemned last March 27,2025 after an inspection revealed several structural concerns, including a failing roof, water infiltration, broken water pipes and hazardous occupancy conditions. The Hilltop building has switched hands five times in the last 20 years with various redevelopment hopes that never materialized. The structure is no past its useful life and poses a safety risk.Asbestos testing confirmed the presence of hazardous materials throughout the building as expected for a school of it age. Hilltop Elementary ended its operation as a school over 35 years ago. Demolition will take place by the end of February and wrap up sometime this spring. There is a possibility for a new apartment or to build homes at the one time Hilltop property with the matter to be discussed by the Webster City City Council at a future meeting.
The date of March 2 was set for a public hearing for the boundary amendment of the Riverview-Central Business District Urban Renewal Plan. The expansion aims to extend the district’s boundaries along Superior Street to include the redevelopment of Brew Oil at 407 Closz Drive. The proposed amendment also includes the parcels of property that were the former location of a Doc Stop at 1827 Superior and the K-Mart building at 2307 Superior Street. The primary objectives of the expansion are to Eliminate Blight, Support Redevelopment and Enhance TIF (Tax Increment Finance) Capacity. The hearing on March 2nd will begin at 6:05 p.m.
In other matters, the Webster City City Council held the second reading and amended the change for all night parking on Des Moines Street on both sides from the Union Pacific Railroad to Bank Street.
There was a closed session of the council on Monday night to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate in the city.