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Rec center still insured by city
By Richard Grabman / Correspondent
The blaze that destroyed the former Alpine Recreation Center at the future site of the Alpine Public Library the morning of March 4 required the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department's attention throughout the night and into the next day.
At times, the fire threatened to spread to the nearby daycare center and Alpine Independent School District offices in the same complex.
Demolition on the building had already started, which was being torn down to clear the site for a new Alpine Public Library, but it appears the building was still insured for nearly a $1 million by the city of Alpine.
City Manager Chuy Garcia said the level of insurance, $978,000 for the building and $50,000 for the contents was normal, and it would be standard to insure a building until it was completely demolished.
Finance Director Ricky Chavez discovered that the building was still insured.
"We're devious, but we never do anything illegal," joked City Attorney Rod Ponton.
Because utilities, including electricity and gas, had been shut off, there has been some speculation that the fire was deliberately set, but the state fire marshal's office has not reached any conclusion. There is no indication that potential insurance claims would have played any part.
According to Mike Raines, claims adjustor for the insurer, Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, there is some question of whether or not the building was insured for fire damage. Raines said his office is still reviewing the details of the property transfer from the city to the Alpine Public Library board to determine if the coverage was in effect at the time of the fire.
"If it was, it will be a wonderful thing for the library," Garcia said.
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