City working with potential buyer for old high school

A report indicating that asbestos is not present in the old high school has cleared the way for the city to proceed with its efforts to identify a buyer for the hazardous building who has the means to demolish it.

Monday, Mayor Linda Kadlec said the city attorney is preparing an earnest money agreement for an unidentified potential buyer.

On June 5, Adams County Superior Court Judge Brian Miller signed an order placing the old high school in a custodial receivership.

“This court finds that the only remedy reasonably calculated to abate the nuisance and minimize and ultimately eradicate the harm to the public is the remedy provided by CR 70, a conveyance of the real property to someone or some entity willing and able to pay for the repair or demolition of the subject building, and a receivership as provided by law,” Miller ordered.

The court also appointed Victoria Iverson as the custodial receiver.

As receiver, Iverson has the limited power to transfer the title of the property to a third party upon the approval of the court and the City of Ritzville.

Kadlec said she expects any agreement with a potential buyer to go before the full city council.

Until the property has been transferred and the threat of a building collapse averted, a portion of Division Street will remain closed as a precautionary measure.