LORDSTOWN — Village council has given approval for officials to work with the Trumbull County Land Bank to demolish part of the Kunkel building off state Route 45 north of Metalco.

Mayor Jackie Woodward said at Monday’s village council meeting that the land bank will cover 75% of the costs for demolition and the village will cover 25%. She said funding is available to proceed with the demolition of the village-owned building.

Council members said the Kunkel building includes different structures, with one being a former classroom building that officials said needs to be demolished. A storage structure at the site, which is an auxiliary building, houses excess fire department equipment, including a rescue boat and a fire engine, which will remain for the time being.

Woodward said the structure has been determined to be a nuisance property.

She said if the village plans to sell the structure, the new owner will be notified that it is a nuisance property and needs to be demolished.

Woodward said she is not sure the exact 25% amount the village will pay for the demolition, but noted the land bank will advertise for bids for a contractor to do the work.

She said after the demolition, the village can have an appraiser look at the rest of the property and the parking lot that could be put up for sale.

Woodward said before the demolition, the building needs to be checked for asbestos and if any is found, it will need to be removed. Demolition is expected to take several months.

Officials said the Kunkel property is in the Lordstown Commerce Center and was once used as an Army Reserve building.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said the storage building houses fire equipment that cannot fit inside the fire department building off Salt Springs Road. Officials said the storage building is not in as bad a condition as the classroom building, which officials described as “deplorable.”

Road/ Buildings Supervisor Martin Nelder said he would look at the electric and gas in the building, noting some heat is needed.

Trumbull County Treasurer Agostino Ragozzino , who attended the meeting, said he is chairman of the land bank board and will assist the village in whatever way he can with projects.

At a previous meeting, council learned that the Ohio National Guard engineering company possibly taking the Kunkel building down as a possible option would not be possible.

Officials said they spoke to representatives of the engineering company, who said they could not do that project.