Du Quoin trying to demolish Higgins building, but do it 'fast and correctly'

"The mayor has both knees in my back to get this building torn down," said city administrator Brad Myers Monday after more meetings with engineers and a demolition contractor on razing the J.J. Higgins building and reopening Main Street to traffic.

"We want to do this fast and correctly," said Myers after meetings with independent engineer John Peradotti of Roud Table Design, Inc. of Mount Vernon and Alex Kladiva of Remkus Engineers, who represents the owners' insurance company.

Myers was to talk to owner Richelle Lietz of Dubois again. "She has been very good about all this," he said.

The Monday morning meeting also included Dennis George of George's Excavating about the possibilities and potential problems of tearing into this building. "We won't know until we start," Myers said.

Myers said everyone believes the Higgins building and the Blanca's Corner building to the east share a common wall. "We have bored that wall and if it isn't a common wall there is only an inch between them (the buildings)," he said.

When the Higgins building comes down, it has not been determined who will pay for the collateral damage to buildings on each side if there is any.

"The mayor just wants Main Street reopened soon," said Myers.

Main Street has been closed for two weeks since an interior wall of the Higgins building fell.