Stoddard Barn contract approved

HAYDEN — A $41,000 contract to remove nuisance wildlife from the Stoddard Barn was unanimously approved during Tuesday's Hayden City Council meeting.

The contract is with Bayuk Enterprises and the wildlife removal is slated to be done by Northwest Conservation Services, owned by Tyler Lowe.

"We will go in and humanely remove the bats and pigeons from the structure so the city can move forward with other restorative efforts," Lowe said.

This is the first phase of a two-step restoration process. The contract calls for the work to be finished by June.

The city budgeted $25,000 for the project and received a $10,000 grant to help cover costs. The city has also saved $6,472 in its budget due to unfilled jobs, and those funds will go to the project.

According to the contract, phase one will include wildlife exclusion, stabilization and shoring to prevent further wildlife damage and cleanup/sterilization.

The city wants to rejuvenate the structure because it is the oldest dairy barn in the city. It also wants to consider alternative uses for the structure.

"It's the first dairy barn in the city of Hayden," said Community Development Director Donna Phillips. "It's the most intact dairy barn and it gives us the opportunity to have time to evaluate better uses for the barn."

The barn on Prairie Avenue is also being used to store equipment. 

"I really love this barn and would love to see it preserved," said council member Sandra White. "I think this is a good move forward."