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/ Support Independent Journalism MEMBER LOGIN OR BECOME A MEMBER News & Features Crews Clean Up Former CHS Property Auger building removed at Fifth Avenue West North site as property transitions to new owner Mick Ruis for redevelopment along future trail corridor BY MAGGIE DRESSER JAN 30, 2021 As part of the final cleanup stages for the former CHS property on Fifth Avenue West North and Center Street in Kalispell, the auger building that sat on top of the con- crete grain elevators has been removed by its current owner, Flathead County Economic Development Authority. In partnership with Montana West Economic Develop- ment (MWED), the organizations have been working to clean up the property to be sold and redeveloped as part of the Core and Rail Redevelopment project. KALISPELL 36°F 2°C FEW CLOUDS Next in Stein VIEW STORY EDITOR'S PICK PODCASTS SHOW CAPTION ---PAGE BREAK--- / The dilapidated metal shed, or auger building, was re- moved this week along with the contaminants it left behind. The property’s metal grain silos had previously been removed, while the concrete grain elevators remain. “We took off that last bit and removed the asbestos and tar off the roof of the grain elevators,” MWED Pres- ident and CEO Jerry Meerkatz said. “So now it’s in good shape to transition for redevelopment.” Last fall, local artist Thomas Valencia painted a colorful train over the auger building to prevent it from getting vandalized. “The reason we put the money into painting the train was because it was getting tagged,” Meerkatz said. “We just wanted to do something that was kind of whimsical that people would enjoy during the time that it sat up there.” The 2-acre property was set to be completely cleaned up on Jan. 29, and will be ready to be transferred to its new owner, local developer Mick Ruis, once contamination test sample results return from Helena. Meerkatz says Ruis has multi-use plans for the site, in- cluding potential housing, businesses and possibly repur- posing the silos and placing a restaurant on top. But regardless of what the future holds for the property, Meerkatz says the historic grain elevators will remain onsite. “The trail gives the City of Kalispell the opportunity to an- chor tenants and developers to do fine work, whatever they come up with,” Meerkatz said. FROST DEPTH FROST PROTECTION EXCLUSIVE SLEEVE LOAD BEARING CAPACITY HELIX Next in Stein All six episodes now available ICE FISHING PHOTO GALLERY MORE SCOREBOARD 01/29 Basketball (Boys) THURSDAY, JAN. 28 Butte Big Sky Flathead Capital Glacier Helena TUESDAY, JAN. 26 Hellgate Big Sky Whitefish Eureka Bigfork St. Ignatius 71 49 41 67 49 41 65 54 67 49 52 39 ---PAGE BREAK--- / NEWS & FEATURES SPORTS OUTDOORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OPINION PHOTOS EVENTS ABOUT US MARKETPLACE Advertise Subscribe Advertiser Tear Sheets Email & RSS Feeds Contact Us © 2021 Flathead Beacon, All Rights Reserved. Use of this site is subject to the Flathead Beacon's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Flathead Beacon JOIN NOW For more information about the Kalispell Core and Rail Redevelopment project, visit www.kalispellcoreandrail.com. [EMAIL REDACTED] If you enjoy stories like this one, please consider joining the Flathead Beacon Editor’s Club. For as little as $5 per month, Editor’s Club members support independent local journalism and earn a pipeline to Beacon journalists. Members also gain access to www.beaconeditorsclub.com, where they will find exclusive content like deep dives into our biggest stories and a behind-the- scenes look at our newsroom. MORE FROM THE BEACON Rebranded County Transit Service Hits the Streets Grieving Through Laughter Helena Capital Downs Flathead 17 Main Street • Kalispell • Montana • 59901 • USA • (406) 257-9220 •