Galt Boys and Girls Club to be torn down

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Galt Boys and Girls Club to be torn down

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2005/07/20/news/8_bgclub_050720.txt

By Ross Farrow

News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Last updated: Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 06:59:26 am PDT

Lodi, California • Wednesday, July 20, 2005

The clock is officially ticking as the wrecking ball gets ready to

pounce on the mold-ridden Galt Boys and Girls Club.

The City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to pay GW Demolition, a Rio

firm, to tear down the city-owned clubhouse at Caroline and Chabolla

avenues. City officials locked up the building in November 2002

after mold was found throughout the building.

The firm has 60 days to tear down the 18,000-square-foot building.

Parks and Recreation Director Boyce Jeffries predicted the building

wouldn't be torn down until at least August.

The full contract to GW Demolition is for $53,520, which also

includes the demolition to an 1,800-square-foot house on the site of

the future Park off Orr and Sargent roads.

In other action Tuesday, the City Council voted to join Elk Grove,

Rancho Cordova and unincorporated Sacramento County south of Highway

50 in a habitat conservation plan being prepared by the county.

The City Council determined that it would be more cost-effective to

bulldoze the Boys and Girls Club building rather than try to remove

mold.

The Boys and Girls Club was used mostly for after-school recreation

and homework since 1991. It includes a full-sized gymnasium.

Since 2002, Boys and Girls Club programs have been held at nearby

Fairsite Elementary School.

Before demolition can begin, the firm must arrange for a contractor

registered by the California Department of Health Services to remove

black mastic asbestos used during several roofing repairs, according

to the city's contract with GW Demolition.

The contract also specifies, due to the mold and asbestos problems,

building materials, that dust and equipment be contained so that it

doesn't encroach on neighboring property.

Mayor Darryl Clare cast the only dissenting vote.

" My no vote is more an emotional one than a factual one, " Clare said

without elaborating.

In other action, the council voted unanimously to enter into two

contracts to map out wetlands and habitat areas for animals like the

Swainson's hawk, sandhill crane and giant garter snake, which

frequent the Galt area.

The council will pay an environmental firm called EDAW $24,100, and

California State University, Chico, another $2,100 to draw

environmental maps for Galt.

The maps will be used as a basis to require developers who build on

land these animals inhabit to compensate for the loss by purchasing

other land on the animals' behalf.

" I predict that Galt will be an international birding site, " Judith

Lamare, president of the Friends of the Swainson's Hawk, told the

City Council on Tuesday.

Galt will be especially popular with devotees who want to see the

sandhill crane and Swainson's hawk once Galt builds more motels and

restaurants, Lamare said.

The county's goal is to streamline development approvals and to

coordinate efforts between local government, state agencies and the

federal government.

The plan will cover 46 species of plants and wildlife throughout

south Sacramento County, including 11 that are state or federally

listed as threatened or endangered.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@....