An open records request reveals mention of demolishing the Blue Streak Printer building as early as September 4th just as demolition of the building began on Thursday, October 30th.
Councilman Travis Martin, who has been critical of the process on social media and in open session, submitted the request for any emails discussions from Mayor JR Knight and City Administrative Officer Troy Body related to the Blue Streak building. He shared those findings with local media.
The emails date as far back as June 30th, when Al Cravens asked about meeting again to discuss the sale of the building. A few weeks later, on July 11th, the Mayor received an email offering input about what the building and the space next to it could become.
It was an email dated September 4th from Body to Museum Director Alissa Keller that says “the building will be demolished” that was mentioned during the committee of the whole meeting. Keller responded asking “how fast is this happening.” Body replied he didn’t know and copied City Public Works Director Mike Perry, Mayor Knight, and Fire Deputy Chief Chad Sivills.
Perry’s response on September 5th, “to my knowledge a date has not been set.”
As of September 12th, according to an email, the Cravens family was still removing items from the building.
An email dated September 15th, with the subject line “Blue Streak Printers Demo,” reveals Public Information Director Amanda Brunt asking if the demo was public knowledge after a media inquiry.
Over the last few months, Mayor Knight received several emails supporting the renovation of the building, either public or private, as well as emails from change.org about a petition started to save the building.
What is not clear is when the discussion to demolish the Blue Streak actually started or how. There are no direct messages from the Mayor or Body to anyone ordering the demolition prior to the vote by city council this week. As the News Edge has previously reported, the first structural engineering review was conducted October 2nd. That report was submitted to the city October 16th and presented to City Council October 21st. However, emails reveal, Sivills sent a preliminary report of the findings to Body on the 2nd.
