The Mandan City Commission is targeting four more downtown buildings for demolition as part of the community's remediation program to clean up property contaminated by underground diesel fuel.

At Tuesday evening's commission meeting, commissioners called for demolition bids for three commercial buildings and one residential. They include the Berger Building at 118 2nd Ave. NW, Engelter Building at 120 2nd Ave. NW, Furniture First at 200 W Main St., and the Mad Hatter at 206 1st Ave. NW.

Demolition bids will be received on Nov. 15 with expectations for demolition to begin shortly after. From issuance of the demolition permit, the successful contractor will have 30 days to take down the buildings. This will include taking out the foundations and back filling the lots to a condition they can be built on, much the same as was done with the Hedahl's building earlier this year.

The Berger building location will house a remediation building where pipes carrying the recovered fuel will be brought together for collection, according to city administrator Jim Neubauer.

"The buildings had willing sellers, reasonable prices and are of benefit to the remediation effort," Neubauer told commissioners.

Neubauer said the Furniture First building's foundation was "not in great shape," and rehabilitation of the building was cost prohibitive. The Mad Hatter residential property will provide remediation with access to the spill under the law enforcement building and former Mandan library. The buildings need to be down by March 1.

Interest has been shown in purchase of the former Hedahl's and Furniture First lots, according to Neubauer.

"We will try the best we can not to put wells and pipes in the middle of lots," Neubauer said. "Our goal is that if we can have a building put up on these lots we will remediate around it. These lots could be built upon in the next year or two."

The Remediation Trust is planning an open house following the next city commission meeting on Oct. 18, beginning at about 7 p.m. in the commission room. Representatives from Leggette, Brashears & Graham, the North Dakota Health Department and the Remediation Trust will be on hand to answer questions.