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Engineers say Crawford rodeo grandstand reached lifespan; council to seek removal bids
Summary
A structural follow-up inspection concluded Crawford's rodeo grandstand is likely structurally unsound; the council accepted a removal estimate, discussed crushing concrete via a grant and agreed to seek bids to remove and fill the void before the next rodeo.
Council member Brent Gebbie told the March 11 council meeting that a second engineering walk-through concluded the grandstand concrete has reached its lifespan and that the structure is not safe for continued long-term use.
Gebbie said a Rapid City firm that offered a free follow-up inspection with a structural engineer photographed the site and recommended removal as the most reliable long-term remedy; the engineer said short-term mitigation could be accomplished before the rodeo without full engineering oversight but cautioned that drainage improvements would be needed for lasting stability.
Gebbie presented an estimate from Watson Construction for removal and suggested the city pursue crushing the concrete under a grant SWANN is obtaining for a crusher to reduce disposal costs. Council members discussed options including filling the void after removal and logistical needs such as dump trucks; one potential mitigation (pumping foam into the void) was rejected by engineers as insufficient to prevent sliding.
The council accepted Gebbie’s resignation later in the meeting and agreed that, separate from his resignation, staff should solicit bids and begin planning removal if a feasible budget is identified. No formal appropriation was recorded in the minutes.
