PETITION REQUESTS REMOVAL OF OLD RAINBOW HOTEL - Fire, Safety And Health Problem

(08/18/2005)

The ruins of the Rainbow recalls times long gone when the town was prosperous Stevens said debris blows from windows during storms and rats "big as my cat" are in the building Some Grantsville residents are continuing to raise concerns about fire, safety and health problems they believe are associated with the long abandoned Rainbow Hotel. Former Grantsville councilwoman Loretta Stevens, who lives a few doors down from the crumbling structure, said "I'm concerned about it catching on fire, and most of those living in neighboring houses are between 83 and 92 years old." Stevens is passing a petition, which she plans to submit to the Town of Grantsville and the Frank Masiarczyk family, owners of the building. The petition requests "The Rainbow Hotel be torn down. It stands empty, no insurance, and is an apparent fire trap." Stevens said during recent storms debris is "flying out of the windows," besides there being "rats as big as my cat." "We are asking the State Fire Marshal's office and the Department of Health to help get this building removed," she said. Grantsville Mayor Neil Blankenship said "As best as I can research, the town doesn't have the legal authority to have this building removed. It is a private property issue. Blankenship said he realizes it is a problem, and he would like to see it out of there. He said he had not discussed the problem with the Masiarczyk family. "It has been buck passing," Stevens said, having brought up the problem several years ago, and more recently posing it to the town council. "Meanwhile, most everyone knows if it catches on fire, it is likely to burn many of our houses," she said. The mayor said he does not believe the asbestos is a problem, unless it is disturbed. Councilman Gaylen Duskey said he is asking "That the Grantsville Town Council look into the safety and ownership issues surrounding the old Rainbow Hotel, to see how the building may be either brought up to safety standards or demolished." COMMUNITY NEAR RAINBOW HOTEL JoAnn Shock, sitting on her porch, says "Surely, something can be done."

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001