Repairs to Latrobe's downtown parking garage could cost the city more than $3 million.
A 9-by-5-foot concrete section of the three-level garage between Ligonier and Jefferson streets collapsed in late June.
"It was the southern portion of the third floor's ascending portion," Eric Robl of Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co. Inc. told council Monday.
On July 2, the city indefinitely shut down the garage after an inspection by Allison Park-based Nathan Contracting.
"The metal structure of the building and the elevator shaft are stable, but all of the concrete has to be taken down and replaced," said Martin Molina, chairman of the city parking authority.
The $3 million quote from Nathan Contracting accounts for the cost of removing and completely replacing the concrete walls and decking, said city Manager Rick Stadler.
Additional costs would come with painting and blasting the metal framework, engineering designs, and elevator shaft upgrades, Stadler said.
"I knew it was going to be multiple millions of dollars to do this," Stadler said.
The concrete portion of the structure must meet construction standards upgraded since the garage was built. "This is not a replacement in-kind; this is a replacement by today's standards," Molina said.
Administrators will review options on how to pay for the work.
In other action, council accepted the resignation of John Graziano from the Latrobe Municipal Authority board. Because Graziano was the Unity representative, township officials must nominate a replacement for approval by city Mayor Barb Griffin to complete his term, which expires Jan. 31, 2014.
In other business, city fire Chief John Brasile said residents must stop burning materials.
"It's in our ordinance -- no open burning -- and that's open burning," Brasile said. "Violators can be fined $600 for each offense."
