By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
What kind of building codes will the old hospital
building require to bring it up to par?
That is a question Juab County Commissioners really
don't have an answer for but it is a question that has been
raised.
Mark Sudweeks, who was not on the agenda but stopped
by to chat about the hospital, wondered if the building
would have to meet the same codes state required which made
it impossible for the hospital to continue to operate at the
site.
"I found out that it would have cost more than $3
million to bring the building to code," said Sudweeks, who
operates the Whitmore Academy. "If that is true, there is no
way that I could afford to bring it to code."
Different uses require different building codes, said
Robert Steele, commissioner. Hospitals operate under a
strict building code and another use may not require such a
stringent set of regulations.
"You are talking about different codes," said Steele.
"It becomes a whole different code."
One problem, said Sudweeks, is that the plumbing is
located in the floor and, in order to repair it, the
purchaser would need to tear up sections of the floor to
replace plumbing.
That may not be the case, said Steele. One plumber
said that instead of cutting the floor, a trench could be
built on the outside of the building and new plumbing could
be built there and then could be plumbed into the
building."
Another problem, said Sudweeks, is that there is a
false ceiling which was installed so that heat ducts could
be placed in that space. He understood that walls, in order
to meet fire code, needed to go clear to the ceiling and not
just to a false ceiling.
Steele suggested that, if Sudweeks would consider
placing a bid, he contact the state fire marshal and find
out just what the code would be for the kind of use he might
propose.
"We are going to sell the building 'as is,'" said Neil
Cook, commissioner.
There doesn't seem to be an asbestos problem in the
building but that would also require an expert to
determine.
There is some leaking which seems to be coming from
around roof drains.
"That is one of the reasons why we decided to sell the
building while things could still be repaired decently and
before something really starts to go wrong," said Steele.
"We would like to see the building brought to some
productive use."
When a building is occupied, the owner takes care of
the facility and does small repairs before they become big
ones.
"There has been a fair amount of interest," said
Steele. "We had a group bring in an electrician and several
different people have had several different ideas," he
said.
Sudweeks said the facility would make a good academy
for kids where a school could be held. He would, however,
have a public hearing to determine what nearby residents
thought.
"The use would have to comply with the Nephi City
zone," said Cook.
If a use cannot be found for the building, said
Steele, then the commission will raze the facility and sell
the property.
"We are interested in finding the best use for the
property which will bring the most money to the residents of
the county and will be the best use of the facility to bring
jobs to the area," said Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission
chairman.
Nevertheless, said Steele, finding out what needed to
be done to the building to make it meet a certain plan or
idea was up to the person or group submitting the bid.
Bob Day, county building and grounds superintendent,
has agreed to take anyone who has a legitimate interest
thorough the building. Those persons may bring the fire
marshal, electricians, plumbers or any number of experts
with them at their own expense.
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