Industrial Development Board meets with Kanson to assess fire damage

A somber owner, Art Filson, clicked through image after image of water damage for members of Hohenwald’s Industrial Development Board (IDB) Monday, February 10, 2020 showing how the plant fared after a main power distribution panel caught fire, shutting down the local industry.

While employees are back to work, manufacturing supplies were heavily damaged, as were fixtures inside when a 3,000 amp service was destroyed early Saturday morning January 11, 2020.

A loud “boom” sound was reported, followed by the fire. Hohenwald Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze. Doors damaged upon entry have to be replaced and the water saturated interior repaired.

Board Chair Marty Spears called Monday’s meeting to order with IDB members Kim Livingston, Bob Burklow, Mayor Danny McKnight, Mike Parker and Terrell Yeiser in attendance.

Also attending were Codes Enforcer Brad Rasbury and EC&D Coordinator Helen Ozier.

Century Insurance investigated the fire for weeks before issuing a check to Mr. Filson this week.

Kanson Electronics continues to work with generator power. Mr. Filson requested a replacement power distribution panel with a 1200 amp service, to which the board agreed.

At the suggestion of Chairman Spears, the IDB voted to obtain a cost for an emergency replacement of portions of the roof, which was already in bad repair. No damage to the roof resulted from the fire.

Images of buckets collecting rainwater inside the building were shown to the IDB.

Hohenwald’s IDB owns the building, which was a sewing factory built in the 1950s. Kanson Electronics provides insurance policies.

Photos of the roof were reviewed which showed areas where water is entering the building. One portion of the roof, coated with rubber, has seams delaminating at the perimeter. Another area “holds water like a bathtub” and foam areas absorb moisture like a sponge. Grass grows on one part of the roof, the IDB was informed. Another part of the roof, covered in metal, will not need repair.

The main roof was replaced in 2011 and one photo showed damage resulting from the work crew leaving a bucket on the roof that further exacerbated the problems.

Other repairs needed are improved wiring

“It’s been a nightmare,” Art Filson told the Board.

The IDB recessed with plans to reconvene Thursday at 4 p.m. at City Hall to consider a price for the roof replacement.