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Pawnee City Council Hears Update on Burned Buildings

By John Nixon

02/12/2016

(KLZA)-- The Nebraska State Fire Marshall’s report has been completed concerning the September 20th, 2015 fire that damaged several buildings in downtown Pawnee City.

According to City Clerk Tammy Stephens the report says the case is closed and the cause of the fire is undetermined.

What’s left is unstable buildings on Main Street that is causing problems for adjacent buildings and businesses. Monday night Jerry Graham, who is taking care of the burned properties met with the City Council and City Attorney Joe Stehlik to further discuss the situation.

City Clerk Tammy Stephens said the owners of the Adobe Grille in Pawnee City notified that City that water is leaking from the burned out buildings into their basement.

Graham has been cleaning up debris from the fire and has noted he has issues with his insurance company. The back wall has been take down to a point that is stable according to a structural engineer, however the roof is mostly gone on one building and sagging on the other. The City Council now wants to see progress on a weigh-earing wall between the buildings so a new roof can be put on.

Stephens says there are monies that Graham could utilize from the Pawnee County Development Council and tax incentives through the Nebraska State Historical Society. However, the improvements must be made before any benefits are paid or can be realized.

The City would like to see the fronts of the buildings remain intact so there is not a hole on Main Street. Graham is to meet with the Pawnee City Council again during their February 22nd meeting.

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