Allen Gulch home discussed

The Hill City Common Council had a special meeting Feb. 24 to discuss 439 Allen Gulch Road. The city explained that it submitted an affidavit to the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Judge Connolly signed off on it on behalf of Judge Morrison.

City administrator Brett McMacken described health concerns that prompted the inspection. 

Although water is currently on in the house, at one point, “the water to the property was shut off, there were people urinating and other things out on the property and exterior-wise there were problems with the roof.”

There was also a recent garage fire. The question to be answered by the inspections is, “can it be occupied safely in a sanitary environment?”

The city posted that inspection warrant on the property and after a 24-hour waiting period took action to execute the inspection warrant. 

That occurred at approximately 11 a.m. Feb. 24. 

Hill City staff along with a sheriff entered the building. There was no incident gaining access. Staff investigated everything from the foundation, roof, rafters, floor joists, sinks, electrical, bathroom and toilet and were looking for specific safety issues or any issues related to the safety. 

Photographs were taken and all the documentation is being processed. City staff said processing would likely continue into this week. Staff is looking at the property from a structural as well as a fire code and an electrical standpoint. 

According to city officials the same people who do new building construction inspections were on the scene to do the inspections on this property. A fire safety code representative and licensed electrical inspector were on the site. The staff does not have any structural engineers on staff; however, pictures were taken in case there is a need to consult with a structural engineer at a later point in time. 

The city was there for approximately one and a half hours and left the property without incident. 

The city is now obligated to report back to the judge by March 2 with the information that was observed. The city will be creating a bigger report for the city attorney.

“We captured what we needed to capture for the moment,” said McMacken,  who explained that there would not be any other inspection unless repairs were required and a follow-up was needed. 

“None of this process has any outcome or end result,” said McMacken. “It has nothing to do with the occupants of the structure.”

Any criminal activity in the house is the domain of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt.  Randy Harkins of the sheriff’s office was also at the special meeting. He explained the sheriff’s department was doing its best to be visible on Allen Gulch Road and could not specifically focus all of its efforts on that property since it has other duties to consider.

“We do the best we can,” Harkins said.

Harkins said the department has made drug arrests out of this house. 

Resident Jessica Jacobs voiced her concerns about the special meeting itself asking, “what the cost of the special meeting was and why a special meeting needed to be conducted solely for one particular house?”

The special meeting was requested by council members at the last regular council meeting.