A business building south of the Tama County Courthouse in Toledo is razed after it partially collapsed in November, 2104. News-Herald file photo

An Iowa Department of Natural Resources grant program is set to assist Iowa cities and towns under 5,000 population with commercial buildings which need to be razed.

Both Tama and Toledo city councils have been wrestling with what they believe are problem buildings which have been ongoing topics at meetings.

Scott Flagg, DNR?spokesperson for the Derelict Building Grant Program told The News-Herald the program is funded for $400,000 annually through a part of landfill tipping fees collected state-wide.

The program is aimed at inspections of abandoned commercial buildings according to a DNR?news release.

Flagg told Tama City Clerk Judy Welch, “The City does not need to own the building but it will need to be in the process of taking possession of the property or have an agreement with the current owner that allows the city to conduct inspections.”

And in an email reply to The News-Herald, Flagg write, “We had our annual application round in February where 15 community projects were selected for funding assistance. The review committee ( made up of five individuals representing IDNR, IEDA, KIB, IRA, and ISOSWO-State Agencies and non-profits focused on reducing waste and assisting communities across the state) decided to set-aside a portion ($19,000) of the $400,000 to provide assistance to communities this summer that are looking to address derelict buildings.

“The impetus behind this special round of funding was to provide assistance with asbestos inspections and structural engineering assessments earlier in the fiscal year to give communities a better idea of the overall building conditions and potential environmental hazards these buildings pose. This in turn would allow them to complete the investigative portion of the work and reapply in the winter with a better understanding of the issues these buildings pose and to request assistance with either removal through deconstruction methods or repairing and renovating the building for a new purpose.”

The DNR news release said beginning on Aug, 1, Iowa communities with populations of 5,000 or lesscan apply for this special funding to inspect abandoned commercial buildings.

The funds, from the DNR’s Derelict Building Grant Program, allow eligible communities to investigate the amount of asbestos present in a building and determine the physical characteristics and stability of these structures by completing structural engineering assessments.

“If a building collapses and the presence of asbestos is unknown, it can increase the economic burden on the community,” said Flagg. “In addition, a building’s appearance may not reveal the actual condition of the structure. Building assessments can assist communities determine how best to address an abandoned building.”

The Derelict Building Grant Programprovides small communities and rural counties financial assistance for abandoned commercial and public structures, which can improve the appearance of their streets, revitalize local economies and alleviate the environmental concerns these buildings can pose. Projects selected may apply for funding in 2017 for additional program-related tasks.