Tony Engelhardt, representing the Mandan American Legion, asked the Morton County Commission Thursday if it was interested in buying the American Legion Club building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and First Street.

Commission Chairman Bob Christensen admitted there had been some talk a couple of months ago about possibly buying the building for use by Morton County Emergency Management.

"But in talking with our emergency manager, she felt the building was not feasible for emergency management," Christensen said.

Auditor Paul Trauger said he looked at the building along with a representative of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association. It was determined, Trauger said, that it would take some expensive rehabilitation to get the building into the shape needed for emergency management.

"We thought it would be a good fit because of its proximity to the courthouse," Commissioner Dick Tokach said. "But we found it would take $75,000 to $80,000 just for asbestos abatement. It's also in the flood plain, which would be a problem for communications."

Commissioner Matt Erhardt didn't want to totally rule out the purchase of the building, but he noted that there were several options open to the county, including a possible cooperative effort with Burleigh County, which is looking for more jail space, as is Morton.

He added that he would prefer to build a new facility on Memorial Highway because of the central location if a cooperative effort were undertaken.

Erhardt also noted there is room to add on to present facilities. The county could even consider using the American Legion building as a temporary site.

Engelhardt said there has been some interest shown by other parties in the building. It was closed in February 2002 because it was too large for the membership to continue running.

The American Legion still meets in the building, which was built in the late 1950s.

"We've been asking $260,000 for the building, but we'd be willing to sell it to the county for $165,000," Engelhardt said. "The historical society has shown some interest in it, but told us they have some things to iron out before they can make an offer. If you're not interested in it, I guess we'll just continue to put it up for sale."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)