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~.~~... <br />Elk~~ MEMORANDUM <br />River <br />TO: HRA <br />FROM: Bob Ruprecht, Building Official <br />DATE: 10/28/201 I <br />SUBJECT: 716 and 720 Main St. NW <br />I was asked by Annie Deckert, Director of Economic Development, to inspect the buildings <br />at 720 and 716 Main St. in July of 2011 to identify areas that were leaking into the 716 <br />building during the winter. At that inspection, I noticed the fractured truss in the 720 <br />building and recommended contacting a structural engineer for inspection. <br />Louks and Associates were contacted by the HRA and an inspection was completed on <br />August 19, 2011. An informal report was prepared by Louks and presented to the HRA. <br />It was determined that a formal property assessment needed to be performed to fully <br />understand the complexity of a possible demolition of the buildings. In their preliminary <br />inspection, Louks recommended that no one enter the building until a further detailed <br />investigation and either the building is demolished or repaired. <br />It is my concern that complete failure of the 720 roof truss may also cause damage to the <br />716 and 724 Building. <br />The occupants of 716 Main St. (Elk River Area Arts Alliance) asked for the opportunity to <br />conduct an inspection with their structural engineer. That inspection took place on October <br />27, 2011. Gregory J. Duerr, a structural engineer from Structural Design Associates, Inc., <br />completed the inspection with me, Annie Deckert, Ron Touchette and David Raymond <br />from the ERAAA, Denny Chuba of Chuba Construction present. <br />The inspections by Louks and Associates and Structural Design Associates, Inc., confirm my <br />determination that the 720 roof truss is nearing complete failure. Occupancy of the 720 <br />building should be severely restricted. To ensure the structural integrity of the adjacent <br />buildings, a snow mitigation plan should be developed for 720 Main St. to minimize the risk <br />of a roof failure. Further, I recommend shoring the failing truss from below, which would <br />substantially reduce the risk of failure until the property survey is completed and further <br />actions are decided. <br />P~INENEU 8~ <br />~~U~~ <br />