The process to erase a mainstay from the Central Minnesota
skyline could start as soon as next week. The Sartell City Council unanimously
approved Thursday an interim use permit to demolish the former Verso Paper
mill, which is now owned by AIM Development. Council member Steve Hennes was
not at the meeting. The work is expected to start this month and take 15 months
to complete. A portion of
the mill was destroyed in an explosion and fire last year. Its former owner
decided to cease operations and sold the property. The company will demolish
buildings, vertical concrete structures and metal. The company says that more
than 530,000 square feet of buildings and 104,000 of tanks and other items will
be removed. Up to 95 percent of the materials will be recycled, according to
the company. The only buildings that will remain are the office building,
hydroelectric operations and a warehouse. On Thursday the council also approved a development
agreement and structurally substandard buildings resolution. Those have to be
put in place in case a tax-increment financing district is created for the
site.
