The end is near for the Emerson apartment building complex in downtown Minot.

This morning county officials, including commissioners John Fjeldahl and Jack NyBakken toured the facility making sure all renters had left and the 14-unit facility was ready to be prepared for tear-down.

The Ward County Commission has already approved removing the facility that sits just west of the Courthouse.

A majority of Commissioners voted to tear down the building to add room for parking...and because the older building was going to require some improvements.

Before it can come down...county building supervisor Ron Overly says some work needs to be done to save material that can be reused.

And about that tear down...when might that happen?

(Ron Overly - County Building Supervisor) "With the weather the way it is, we may not get in until spring. If we get nice weather, they may be able to take it down right away. We will get it ready for that getting the good stuff out. - While the decision to remove the building has been approved how to pay for it has not been yet.

Commissioner Fjeldahl says there are some options for the commission to consider...

(John Fjeldahl) "We are waiting for estimates as to what that will cost and Dana Larson is checking on some federal funding dealing with the asbestos in the building. We will either have to make the decision to fund it with local tax dollars or wait til we get some sort of federal help with the demolition of it."

If the federal dollars do come and the County uses that method, Fjeldal says it could take a year or longer to get that money.

The Ward County Commission will discuss the issue this Tuesday at its regular meeting. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list