City approves contract to demolish hospital

Monday night, the Athens City Council approved a contract to move forward with demolishing the old Henderson County Memorial Hospital.

The contract with Ktwo Construction LLC. is for $147,935 and includes plans to save the hospital chandelier and cupola, plus save 500 bricks for residents who want a piece of the hospital to remember.

A representative for Ktwo said the project should take about 60 days, but the project can’t get underway yet because of state regulations. Officials Monday night said there was a requirement to notify the state 10 days before demolition can begin.

“This has been a very arduous process,” City Administrator Philip Rodriguez told the council. “It is not as simple as just going over there and knocking it down.”