Kyle Haug, owner of Wind Street Station, has put up a sign reminding people that businesses are open. The street, which is closed because stone blocks are falling off the building that shares an alley with Fat Boys, is desolate on a Friday evening.
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Brenda Wade Schmidt
A structural engineer is expected to be in Flandreau this week to evaluate the building that is crumbling at Wind Street and Second Avenue.
The engineer, hired by building owner Jim Zandt’s insurance company, will assess the building both for a claim and for its condition. On March 14, stone blocks started falling off the building in the alley that separates it from Fat Boys Bar. The building also has a visible crack near the top of the southwest corner.
Tenants who live upstairs above a laundromat on the ground floor were evacuated but have been given a chance to get their personal belongings removed.
On March 15, the city council declared Zandt’s building a nuisance, giving him seven days to appeal the decision. By Friday, the one week mark, Zandt did not appeal, giving the city the right to do abate the nuisance. But the city will wait first for the engineer’s report.
“It’s going to take a little time to sort all of this out,” said City Administrator Jeff Pederson. “The city benefits from that time elapse by developing better knowledge about what Mr. Zandt’s options are.”
An update for the council is expected April 1.
“In the meantime, quite frankly, we’re just going to have to deal with the situation downtown,” Pederson said. “We would like this to proceed as quickly as possible.”
The city has decided not to hire an independent engineer at this time.
In the meantime, the street remains closed off to vehicle traffic and pedestrians are allowed only in certain areas. Kyle Haug from Wind Street Liquor put up a sign saying that he, Fat Boys, Bar X and Fajita’s Bar and Grill are open. Patrons are not able to park close to any of the businesses.
In the case of Bar X and Fajitas, which has an off-sale liquor license, some parking is available behind the businesses. But that doesn’t accommodate everyone.
Alderman Bob Pesall asked whether Zandt has any liability to those businesses who have fewer customers.
“We’ve got a drive-up liquor store you can drive up to now. They’re struggling,” he said.
Business is down at Fat Boys, too, which has had to close off the bar area that is on the north side of the building closest to the crumbling block.
“People are scared to come in,” said Leslie Hurley, manager. “I have two workers that are moms, and they don’t even want to work. They’re scared.”
The engineering study is a good step, said Alderman Brad Bjerke. “There’s going to be a big level of frustration on many levels before this thing is straightened out.”
