The Hills City Council and Economic Development Association discussed the fate of three downtown buildings during their meeting Tuesday night.
Plans of the Hills Post Office moving into the city office are on hold. No new construction will be approved until at least September, and there is a possibility some offices will be closed, according to a letter received by the council from the Postal Service.
The council discussed offering the space previously earmarked for the post office for rent but instead decided to wait until the end of the Postal Service's fiscal year in September to see if current budget problems are worked out.
"We can hold off for four months," said Langford. "We don't have anyone hot for it. We have other buildings available."
A motion passed to hire structural engineers Bether and Associates, Sioux Falls, to evaluate cracks in the Legion Building. Although the cracks have been in the legion walls for years they have widened and shifted over the winter, according to Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk.
The evaluation is made more difficult because the majority of the walls are paneled in the structure. "We need to hire these guys to see if the building is going to be condemned," said Langford.
In their final business on buildings Tuesday, the Hills EDA decided to offer the American Salvage Building up for bid. "We can sell it as is or we can fix it, but we would need more money for it if we fix it," said Langford.
The city recently received a $9,000 insurance payment for damage incurred when the building buckled from snow weight.
The motion passed to advertise the building for sale by sealed bid with the right to refuse any and all bids. Bids will be opened May 8 and must include intended use for the property.
In other council news:
oSioux Valley Telephone Company has reached an agreement to purchase the Hills cable system from McLeod USA. Denny Law, general manager of Hills Telephone, was present to request the council approve the transfer.
There would be no immediate changes to channels or rates, according to Law. Sioux Valley Telephone Company currently operates cable systems in Dell Rapids, Montrose, Corsica and Plankinton, S.D.
oThe council wants to establish an interest-free loan program to help residents replace sidewalks that have deteriorated and need to be replaced.
Most of the new neighborhoods in Hills do not have sidewalks, and some residents in older neighborhoods are asking to remove their sidewalks rather than repair them.
Council members were contacted by their insurance carrier and encouraged to make a stronger effort to repair, replace or remove hazardous sidewalks.
oThe council is sending letters to residents in Hills who have junk cars parked at their residences. If the cars are not removed, they can be ticketed and the vehicles towed.
oA motion by Dana Dahlquist to move the council meetings from 6 to 7 p.m. during the summer was defeated.